Trash Talk: A New Activity Book for Nexa at SUVSWD
If you live in South Utah Valley, you’ve probably heard the rumor: trash and recycling just go to the same place. And here’s the thing—that rumor is TRUE. But not in the way you might think!
We learned this firsthand while working with Nexa, the educational division of South Utah Valley Solid Waste District (SUVSWD) on a brand-new 32-page educational activity book. As we developed this book, Nexa’s director, Terry Ficklin, treated us (and our family and friends!) to multiple behind-the-scenes tours of their state-of-the-art Dry Creek Transfer Station. And let us tell you—it’s impressive.
So yes, trash and your recycling go to the same place—but that place isn’t a landfill. It’s the Transfer Station, where materials are responsibly handled and sent to the right destination. Trash heads to the landfill, while recycling is sent to the Material Recovery Facility in Salt Lake. We knew that if we could help clear up this big local misconception, we could make a real impact on how our community understands and handles waste.
Investing in a Cleaner Future
Nexa sees this activity book as an investment—one that will pay off in 10+ years as today’s kids grow up with better waste habits. SUVSWD ordered 30,000 copies to distribute to:
Families dropping off trash at the Transfer Station
Students coming on field trips to see how our waste is handled
This book is designed to get into homes through the kids—but it’s made for the whole family to enjoy. And we made sure to use every inch of space wisely.
On the back cover, we dedicated prime real estate to an FAQ section just for grown-ups! We know that parents, grandparents, and caregivers will see these books when their kids bring them home, and we wanted to make sure they get the right information, too.
STOP Throwing This in the Trash!
One of Nexa’s biggest priorities is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)—especially the growing problem of rechargeable batteries. These little powerhouses are in more and more products—cell phones, toothbrushes, e-bikes, power tools—the list goes on.
But here’s the problem: throwing rechargeable batteries in the trash is dangerous.
They can spark fires in trash trucks, at the Transfer Station, and even in the landfill. This actually happens all the time. It’s dangerous!
We knew this was a message we had to get right. So we created a fun and memorable activity to teach kids (and their families!) that the safest way to handle rechargeable batteries—and other HHW—is simple:
Step 1: Keep a small box in your home to collect batteries and other hazardous items.
Step 2: When it’s full, bring it to the Transfer Station for safe disposal.
If we can teach this habit to kids now, we’ll be preventing fires and protecting our waste workers in the future.
The Best Field Trip Ever? We Think So.
One of the coolest things about the Dry Creek Transfer Station is that it was built with education in mind. The facility has an Education Room, complete with interactive exhibits and massive windows so visitors can watch the whole process in action.
If you ever get the chance to tour the Transfer Station—do it! Seeing firsthand how our community handles waste the right way is eye-opening. And with this new activity book in hand, students and families can take that knowledge home with them and put it into action.
Bringing Waste Education to Life
Working with Terry and the Nexa team was an absolute joy. They care deeply about our community and know that real change starts with education. This book is part of their mission to create a cleaner, safer future for all of us.
If you’re part of a waste facility, city, or educational program looking for ways to engage your community with fun, effective educational materials—let’s talk! We specialize in custom activity books designed to teach important topics in a way that truly sticks.
📩 Contact us today to learn more about how we can bring your vision to life!