Nerdscursion: A Trash Tour: No Such Place As “Away"

We’ve invited our favorite Nerd Nite alumni to take their talks out into the wild! Nerdscursions are small, themed adventures led by former Nerd Nite speakers — a chance for curious locals to experience a topic hands-on.

In this nerdscursion, former speaker Jasmine Scott, and her teammates Ashley Wyland and Leslie Caplin, take us on a guided bus tour of the Pinellas County Solid Waste Management Complex.

Description:

Pinellas County manages over one million tons of garbage each year at the Solid Waste Disposal Complex! This tour provides an overview of Pinellas County’s integrated solid waste management system, including the Waste-to-Energy facility, landfill, recycling programs and the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Center. Join this behind-the-scenes tour to see what happens to your garbage when you throw it away. Learn about the County’s vision of zero waste to landfill by 2050 and what you can do to reduce waste to conserve our landfill for future generations. This event includes a classroom presentation and a guided driving tour in a van through the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex. Participants stay in the tour vehicle the entire driving tour. The driving tour is subject to change depending on site conditions.

Location: Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex Education Building, 2940 110th Avenue North, St. Petersburg. (Note: Please do not go to the Solid Waste Administration building on 114th Avenue.)

Accessibility: Walking is not required for the tour. Walking is limited to and from the parking lot and to the tour classroom and tour vehicle. There are no stairs at the facility; however, there are several steps to get into the vehicle.

Weather: In case of inclement weather, the event will go on!

Upon ticket purchase, this liability waiver form will be required: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tK2Nywgu0tQapBZINiIMmH0JFO4YL4N4Kbjh9rxjD40/edit

Tour Leaders Bio:

Jasmine, Ashley and Leslie are zero-waste warriors at Pinellas County Solid Waste, where they spend their days crafting engaging educational programming, managing projects, and drafting web and printed content, among other things. Their mission? To inspire folks to cut down on waste and recycle like pros! They can turn any conversation into a lively discussion about garbage or call it “trash talk.” Jasmine is a Louisville, Kentucky transplant who graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. If she were to receive a superlative, it would be ""Most Likely to Spot a Landfill While on a Road Trip."" Leslie is a native of Pinellas County and graduated from St. Petersburg College with a bachelor’s degree in Sustainability Management. Think of it as a degree in saving the planet. She’s on a mission to help Pinellas County residents recycle right, reduce waste and rethink what they toss. Ashley is a “yinzer,” born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental science. During her off hours, she enjoys traveling to new places and, of course, learning about their recycling programs."

Note: Pinellas County Solid Waste is unable to accept any form of payment for tours. This $8 ticket fee (plus sales tax and platform fees) goes toward Nerd Nite St. Pete staff, marketing and operating expenses.