Reducing and Reusing Basics - Report Example

RECYCLING SCHEDULE This recycling schedule focuses on recycling wastes from food preparation. These wastes were also categorized into biodegradable,reusable and non-biodegradable wastes. Other recycling activities were noted as well. However, it must be noted that the whole discussion will also tackle other daily activities such as travelling, going to school or office, etc. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Breakfast Bio- degradable Banana peelings Orange peelings Coffee bean Orange peelings Banana peelings Coffee bean Banana peelings Egg shells Coffee bean Banana peelings Egg shells Carton box of cereals Orange peelings Egg shells Coffee bean Coffee bean Coffee bean Coffee bean reusable flask flask flask flask flask Flask Egg tray flask Non-bio-degradable --none-- Lunch Bio-degradable Fish bone Lettuce residue --none-- Noodle container Fish bone Lettuce residue Noodle container Potato peelings Tomato residue Tetra pak Potato peelings Tomato residue Tetra pak Tetra pak reusable Soda can Water bottle Soda can Water bottle Soda can Water bottle Soda can Water bottle Plastic bag Water bottle Plastic bag Water bottle Plastic bag Water bottle Paper bag Paper bag Paper bag Paper bag Non-bio-degradable Patty wrapper Hotdog wrapper Plastic fork Ketchup wrapper Ketchup wrapper Dinner Bio-degradable Carton of micro-wavable meals Carton of micro-wavable meals Carton of micro-wavable meals Carton of micro-wavable meals Carton of micro-wavable meals Carton of micro-wavable meals Carton of micro-wavable meals Milk carton Milk carton Reusable --none-- Non-bio-degradable Container of fruit dices Container of fruit dices Container of fruit dices Container of fruit dices Container of fruit dices Container of fruit dices Container of fruit dices OTHER RECYCLING ACTIVITIES Carpooling carpooling carpooling carpooling carpooling Carpooling carpooling setting up a garage sale visiting other garage sales for things needed donate clothes, books and other items to charitable institutions Send old batteries to battery shops Bring used papers to newspaper printing presses Taking into account the materials saved due to recycling, reduction and reuse measures, I was able to save approximately three to five grocery bags of items. THREE R’s OF RECYCLING Reduce The first concept of recycling is the reduction of products used to what is needed, subsequently minimizing the by-products resulting from these unnecessary uses. For example, most families have six- to ten-seater vans for their travelling needs, such as going to and coming back from school, even if only two to four people ride the vehicle. As a result, many vehicles are used to send children to school. As a solution, parents and school personnel can organize a carpooling mechanism, in which vehicles of willing owners are registered, children are assigned to the vehicles based on their proximity to the carpoolers, the carpooling children are asked for a reasonable fee, and owners are given just compensation. In the case of eating, a lot of reductions can be done. We can opt not to drink from straws. We can order, cook or prepare what we can only consume so that packaging materials will not be wasted to the leftovers, refrigerator energy can be limited to fresher foods, and spoilage and mold growth can be avoided. We can also use our own silverwares when buying food from fastfood and restaurants. Another way of conserving is finding alternatives to energy-intensive activities. A good example is travelling by vehicle. Currently, a significant proportion of vehicle relies on fuel, and only a few run on water and solar power. Although it is one of the most useful technological advancements, it is most of the time overused. Even if our destination can be covered by foot or through biking, sometimes we still use our cars or motorcycles. It must be noted that careful planning of daily activities can help immensely in the reduction of product usage. If only we know and buy only those that what we really need, we have already achieved so much in our efforts to conservation. Recycle Another important step in conservation is recycling, whereby wastes are classified into different categories, based on whether they can be degraded or not, and whether they can be reused with or without processing. Biodegradables Biodegradable materials are organic substances that can be easily decomposed into simpler compounds that usually have more variety in its uses compared to when it is not yet decomposed. When, for example, dried leaves fall from a tree, they reach the soil that provides an oxygenated environment with suitable moisture content, which facilitates biochemical reaction and microorganism degradation. Biodegradable wastes can be further sub-classified into wet biodegradables, such as fruit and vegetable peelings, and dry biodegradables, like paper and cartons. Since wet biodegradables are more easily decomposed, they can be used as fertilizer in gardens. They supplement the soil so that the growing plants can be provided with nutrients. Compared to the wet ones, it is more difficult to degrade the dry biodegradables. Some may thus opt to reuse them. In this case, there may be a need for further processing to use them again. For example, paper can be used for the production of newspaper, paper towels as well as paper cups and plates. Non-biodegradables These items, like plastics, batteries and others, can undergo immediate reuse or processing. Ways indicated below were used during the recycling week conducted. Immediate and After Processing Reuse Many things that we use can be kept for future use. In the recycling journal, the egg trays from grocery stores can be kept, so that eggs bought for the following weeks can be placed in these old trays instead of the new ones. Soda cans can be processed again to package other canned goods. Coffee bought from a nearby coffee shop can be placed in personal flasks instead of the provided cups. On the other hand, water bottles can be reused for arts and crafts projects, plant bed, and liquid containers, etc. Unwanted books, clothes and other items can be donated to allow other people to use these items. Similarly, we can also buy from garage sales that sell used items to check look for things we need. EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY-WIDE REDUCING, REUSING, AND RECYCLING The Hillsborough county in Florida has an estimated 2011 population of 1, 267, 775, and households of 462, 447 (persons per household = 2.56) (United States Census Bureau, 2012). If a single household commits to doing recycling, 8 to 13 grocery bags of items can be saved. The whole Tampa county can thus save around 3, 700, 000 grocery bags. If we are to price each grocery bag as $5, then the savings can amount to 18.5 million dollars. However, it must be noted that not one institution can realize the full effects of conservation. For example, a household cannot get $15 to $25 a week, since savings can also be realized by grocery stores, coffee shops, battery shops, printing presses, and bargain shops. In effect, the whole community of recycling households can gain from this practice of conservation. Hopefully, this inventory of a recycling week can encourage people, families, communities, counties, states, and the whole world in protecting our natural resources. SUMMARY The three R’s of reduce, recycle and reuse go hand in hand in efforts to conservation. Aside from decreasing the materials used in activities of daily living, people can classify their wastes into bio- or non-biodegradable, and immediately reusable or reusable only after processing. These can be easily conducted by an individual, a family, a community, and the rest of the world. REFERENCES United States Census Bureau. (2012, Sept. 18). Hillsborough County, Florida. Retrieved from: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12057.html United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, Nov. 14). How Do I Recycle…Common Recyclables. Retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/recycle/how_recycle.html United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, Nov. 14). Recycling Basics. Retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycle.html United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, Nov. 14). Reducing and Reusing Basics. Retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/recycle/reduce.html Read More