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Toxic Waste

This document describes the toxic waste teambuilding activity. Participants must work together within a time limit to transport a can of "toxic waste" from one circle to another using only rope, a bicycle tube, and while maintaining a 4-foot distance from the waste. It requires teamwork, coordination, communication and problem-solving skills. The activity highlights aspects of team development and leadership. Equipment needed includes rope, two large cans, "toxic waste" which is typically water, and the set up involves two circles about 30 feet apart.

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Phạm Châu
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88 views

Toxic Waste

This document describes the toxic waste teambuilding activity. Participants must work together within a time limit to transport a can of "toxic waste" from one circle to another using only rope, a bicycle tube, and while maintaining a 4-foot distance from the waste. It requires teamwork, coordination, communication and problem-solving skills. The activity highlights aspects of team development and leadership. Equipment needed includes rope, two large cans, "toxic waste" which is typically water, and the set up involves two circles about 30 feet apart.

Uploaded by

Phạm Châu
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Toxic Waste: http://www.wilderdom.com/games/descriptions/ToxicWaste.

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 Engaging small group activity
 Task is to move the contents of "contaminated container" to a safe location using minimal
equipment, whilst maintaining a safe distance  and within a time limit!
 Can be used to highlight any almost aspect of teamwork or leadership
 Difficult activity - avoid using with groups who are still in the "forming" stage of group
development
 Logistically simple but needs equipment set up

Equipment: Approximately 75ft of light rope / cord, old bicycle tube, two large cans (approx.
1.5l), and toxic waste (water).
Time: ~20-30 minutes
Brief Description:
Equipped with a rubber tube and some string,  a group must work out how to transport a can of
"toxic waste" to the neutralization can.
Description of Toxic Waste
Links to other descriptions
Description of Toxic Waste
 This activity provides an engaging, focusing, challenging small group challenge for about
30-60 minutes.
 Group sizes of approximately 7 to 9 are ideal, but can be done with as few as 5 or as
many as 12.
 Create two circles about 8 ft in diameter and about 30 ft apart, outside if possible
 Place a large can with toxic waste (water or balls) in the center of one circle and an empty
can in the center of the other circle.
 Explain that people must always maintain a distance of 4 ft from the toxic waste,
otherwise they will lose a limb or even die.  The circle represents the danger zone, but 4ft
distance must be maintained wherever the waste goes.
 If the waste is tipped into the other can, it will be neutralized.
 The waste will blow up and destroy the world after 20 minutes if it is not neutralized.
 Equipment consists of many lengths of light rope / cord and an old bicycle tube.  That's it.
 Give the group some planning time e.g. 5 mins, then action time, e.g., 15-20 mins.
 If they spill the waste entirely, refill it for them, but don't encourage it.  If someone
breaches the 4ft zone (often there are creeping hands), give a warning, then start
enforcing loss of limbs (hand behind back) or function (e.g., blindness if a head enters the
zone) that lasts for the rest of the game.  If a whole person enters the zone, they have to
sit out for the rest of the exercise.
 It is not an easy exercise and may need some coaching along the way.  The solution
usually involves doubling the tube over several times, attaching about 8 cords around -
everyone pulls on a cord to stretch out a rubber ring which is placed over the waste.  With
good coordination and care, the can can then be lifted, moved and tipped.
 There are invariably plenty of key communications and decisions during the exercise that
provide for fruitful debriefing.
Links to other descriptions of Toxic Waste
 Toxic Waste Dump Instructions - Short description of indoor activity [McGraw-Hill].
 A variation on a similar theme (uses a bowling ball instead of liquid waste) - The Great
Mississippi Lizard Egg [www.firststepstraining.com]

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