Decision cases have been used in the United States for higher education in agriculture and natural resources, as well as in extension education. Few cases have been developed for secondary education audiences and fewer yet for both secondary and higher education applications. This case was developed for use in both secondary- and university-level classes to address the important topic of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal. The case describes a dilemma faced by a county in northern Virginia that needed to decide whether to proceed with its suit against a farm that it had deemed to be "an unlicensed landfill." The case examines the farmer's philosophy about his operation and provides background information about his method for producing compost fromvegetative solid wastes solicited from areas beyond the farm's boundaries. The case reviews information about MSW and its disposal on both national and state levels. As the result of deliberating this case, students will gain knowledge about composting,landfills, and the regulations that govern them, as well as a better understanding of the decision making process around issues concerning environmental safety and conflicts involving agriculture and broader societal interests. The case was tested in asecondary environmental science class, as well as a university-level general education course. In an evaluative written questionnaire distributed to the students following their completion of the case, 70% reported being "engaged" by the case learning activities whereas 99% reported that they had encountered "new viewpoints" through the case. Similarly, 92% of university students evaluated the case as "good" to "excellent" and noted that the case was "thought-provoking" and stimulated them to think about waste disposal and how it might be improved.
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