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Introduction/Overview: Over the week of January 7th through the 14th, our APES class collected our trash to see how much we produce in a week. We collected everything except unsanitary products and our food waste. For example, chip bags were collected but the leftover food we didn't eat at lunch was not. Everything from cans to light bulbs to shoes were collected by the class. To receive extra credit, we had to carry our trash bags around with us everyday, to meals, practice and even to class and/or extra help. At the end of the week, we dumped our trash out and organized/sorted it to see what we collected. We counted the amount of trash we collected and counted the amount in each category. Then we weighed each category of our collected trash and saw how much of each category we collect each week and estimated how much we would collect in a year.
Observations During the Lab Part:
Math Calculations During the Lab:
Plastic = 39 pieces collected
207g in a week = 10,764g in a year (207 x 52 = 10,764)
Paper = 17 pieces collected
46g in a week = 2,392g in a year (46 x 52 = 2,392)
Paperboard/Cardboard = 2 pieces collected
259g in a week = 13,468g in a year (259 x 52 = 13,468)
Aluminum = 4 pieces collected
54g in a week = 2,808g in a year (54 x 52 = 2,808)
Glass = 1 piece collected
320g in a week = 16,640 in a year (320 x 52 = 16,640)
Other = 1 piece collected
2g in a week = 104g in a year (2 x 52 = 104)
Question 1: Based on your observation of the solid waste materials displayed on the desk in the room, what type or category of municipal solid waste seems to be the most abundant?
With all of the trash I collected, I found that I had more plastic than anything. Over all I had 39 pieces of plastic and that is roughly 207 grams. If the rate of the amount of plastic I produced in a week for a whole year stays consistent, I would roughly produce 10,764 grams of plastic. As a class I think we all produced more plastic than anything else.
Question 2: Describe three significant and specific environmental impacts which are associated with "life cycle" of the material type which you identified in question 1 above.
Three significant environmental impacts which are associated with the "life cycle" of plastic specifically are, that plastic can negatively effect wildlife habitats and change their way to adapt to the ever changing environment. Another way plastic is negatively effecting the environment is the chemical impact. When plastic is made and burned to reduce to a smaller volume, toxic chemicals are released into the air. these toxic chemicals can cause reproductive issues and cancer. Lastly, when trashed plastic is sent to landfills, there is a possibility of that toxic liquid or 'broken down' plastic getting into the underground water stream and into the soil.
Question 3: If your parents completed this same solid waste project, how do you think their inventories would differ, in terms of types and amounts of materials used in a week or in a year? In addition to your thoughts on this matter, please discuss this question with your parents and record their specific feedback regarding this point.
If my parents did this solid waste project, we would have less trash because we are more of an ingredient house hold. My mom makes almost everything from scratch so there is less waste than pre made things. As a family I think we have more bottle and can recycling as well as food recycling for example, egg cartons. Every week we produce a bag of trash and a bag of recycling as well as every month or so 4 crates of bottles/ cans. We take the bottles and cans to the store and put them through the machine to get money.
Reflection Questions:
Question 4: Did you altar your choice about foods eaten and/or item purchased/used during the last seven days, due to the type or amount of packaging? Describe how your choices were modified during this assignment. If you did the bonus portion of the inventory,(the "carry"), was there ever a decision not to, for example, have a little orange juice, because it would mean needing to carry the large juice container around in your solid waste bag(s)?
I don't think I did because I have such a reduced and restricted diet that I hardly ever go to Jakes and or I don't really have much flexibility with how I can change my diet. I rarely get packages so I never really have the excess packaging in that sense. Usually stuff I uses or eat doesn't come in excess packaging. The only use I could think of that comes in/with excess packaging is my birth control because it comes with a plastic sleeve that has no use, a HUGE packet that is waxy that has all of the side effects, a silicon gel packet and the plastic packaging, not counting the actual packet of the pills that is made out of plastic and aluminum. I did participate in the "carry". I did think about not carrying my trash because a few days were rainy and or snowy so it was a hassle but when I knew i would see Alan, at a meal, class or just around would try and bring my bag. I never made a different descision based if I was carring my bag or not.
Question 5: Discuss any aspects of this assignment that you found significant, meaningful, and/or worthwhile. Describe any experiences you may have had relation to this inventory/carrying of your MSW around campus for seven days that you think are memorable.
I think it was very meaningful to understand how much trash we produce and how much of it is not able to be recycled. It was also very informative to learn how much things weigh and to see it all together on the scale brings a very powerful meaning to the word 'Trash'. Definitely carrying around my trash helped me understand everything that is trash that you don't necessarily think of. I definitely think everyone should carry their trash around for a week just so you have a deeper and broader understanding of the amount of waste you produce.
Question 6: Would you change anything about this assignment? if "yes" please describe:
I wouldn't change much about this assignment i think you, Alan, did a very good demonstration on how to understand your waste in a week and understand where your trash goes and how much of it is recovered. I think something you could add as another extra credit thing could be having people come up with a creative way of carrying their trash around so you don't use another plastic bag. Like for example a wheelbarrow or a sled.
Conclusion: In conclusion, over all I learned a ton about how much trash i produce, where my trash goes and the effects of my waste in an environmental mind set. I also learned how I sort my trash and the categories as well as where the sorted categories go. It was also very interesting to see how much some of your waste weighs because it costs a ton of money to ship waste that can weigh tons of money that is just so unnecessary. This lab is very eye opening and I believe every Proctor student should participate in this lab!
'Three friends just sorting their trash', Taken by Alan McIntyre
All photos posted are taken by the Author unless stated otherwise.
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