This educational unit on solid waste solutions is intended to convey to students an understanding of the four methods of solid waste handling, in priority order, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency: (1) reduction in the volume of waste produced; (2) recycling and composting; (3) waste combustion, i.e., incineration of waste; and (4) sanitary landfilling. Students learn about demonstrating responsible buying decisions, practicing resource and energy conservation, and supporting integrated solid waste management, especially source reduction and recycling. The multi-disciplinary lessons and activities in this guide were designed to enhance and reinforce students' skills in vocabulary building, oral and written communication, research and data collection, charting and graphing, critical thinking, organization, problem-solving and cooperative learning, and citizenship. Materials include a Planet Patrol wall chart (not reproducible here), teacher's lesson guide, student worksheets, parent take-home, and overhead visuals. The topics of the four lessons are sanitary landfills, source reduction, recycling and composting, and waste-to-energy incineration. Each lesson contains the concepts (e.g., source reduction means less garbage), a brief vocabulary list, list of materials needed (e.g., student worksheet, scale, etc.), background information and classroom activities. A list of 14 sources of more information or free/low-cost materials is appended. (KR)