The Recycle Centre Tour and Brochure Project - Case Study Example

COMPLETE Project Report of Recycling and Sustainability The Recycle Centre Tour and Brochure Project 1. Introduction Climate change is a serious problem affecting communities and individual around the world. The main issue about climate change is emissions of harmful greenhouse gases coming from the industry such as carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and methane from sanitary landfills. Recycling is viewed as an effective solution to reduce the amount of waste materials being placed in landfills as well as decreasing the amount of methane emissions in the environment. The following sections discusses climate change and associated greenhouses gases contributing to global warming, methane being release from decomposing organic materials in landfills, and the potential of reduce, reuse, and recycling in mitigating climate change. This report also detailed my involvement with a recycling project intended to educate schoolchildren with age ranging from two to four. These include details of the “Recycle Centre Tour”, communication tool development, challenges faced during the tool development, and reflection about the project. 2. Context/Background Climate change is a serious global environmental concern as greenhouse gases consist primarily of water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide is warming the planet. These gases act as a blanket trapping energy from the sun up to the point that heat cannot return to space so the Earth can cool (Leonard, 2001, p.17). The amount of greenhouse gases in the Earth atmosphere continue to increase as cities, factories, and transportation consume carbon-based energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Deforestation is also responsible for increasing the carbon dioxide gas in the air, as only few trees are able to uptake carbon from the air. Similarly, as the population of the Earth increase, the amount of waste also increases particularly those that are delivered to landfill sites. These rotting landfill releases methane (a greenhouse gas) into the air that further warms the atmosphere (R.I.C., 2007, p.43). The link between solid waste and global climate change was established in 2000 where EPA or Environmental Protection Agency demonstrated that waste reduction and recycling could help slow down climate change (Friis, 2012, p.454). Unlike carbon emission from transportation and industry, landfills will generate methane gas from the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials, which is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide (Jedlicka, 2009, p. 263). Reduction of methane emissions from landfills is critical as uncontrolled release often result to bad odour and explosion (Giugale et al, 2001, p.706). Some of the measures being considered include reducing the amount waste disposed, collect methane gas from landfills, or use it as a fuel. However, the last two according to Palm et al, (1999) will also generate CO2 that is also a greenhouse gas (p.90). Twenty-five percent of all household waste sent to landfill is paper and cardboards (Walker, 2007, p.4). Paper is organic material and decomposes naturally in the air but when buried in landfill, its decomposition releases methane. Recycling paper therefore not only reduces the amount of waste in landfill but decrease methane gas emissions and risk of fire (ibid, p.5). Moreover, recycling not only prevent production of methane but decreased the demand for raw materials that will be use for production (Zhu, 2007, .69). In summary, recycling can slow down climate change by reducing methane-producing waste in landfills and decreasing consumption of raw materials acquired from the environment. In terms of sustainability, reuse and recycling of materials can prevent depletion of natural resources and accumulation of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change and global warming. 3. Project Involvement and Participation I was involved in a project intended to reduce the amount of waste in landfills and educate schoolchildren in Canberra about the role of waste management in preserving our environment. My involvement include participating in a “Recycle Centre Tour” where we were educated about the important aspects of recycling , processes involved, and issues surrounding material recycling such as sorting and the type of materials that should be recycled. Linda Kwong of the Hume Recycle Centre was very helpful as we learn so much about waste and the potential of recycling in stopping climate change and achieving a sustainable future. Aside from observing actual landfills, we were also given informative materials such as brochures, posters, and others that talks about recycling and the environment. In general, the tour provided useful information about waste management and steps to be taken in order to save our environment. The concept of reduce, reuse, and recycle for instance encourages efficient use of resources and energy particularly in the manufacturing industry. Since the industry is often in need of raw materials that is available in the natural environment, recycling and use of recycled materials not only can help the industry reduced is energy use in producing their products but decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere (Morgan, 2009, p.5). Moreover, manufacturing new products from recycled material eliminate the need to exploit non-renewable resources, which in essence is increasing the possibility of a sustainable future (Wehr, 2011, p.383). Recycling include a number of processes such as sorting waste materials according to their type and use. For instance, paper and cardboards are usually sorted out from metallic and plastic materials. Similarly, used lighter papers are separated from heavier ones using a blow fans. According to Paige (2009), while whirling around the container, lighter sheets are blown to the top by a big fan while heavier sheets drop to the bottom of the container (p.7). In contrast, heavier materials like steel are sorted using magnet and include locating and separating contaminated metals from the others (Saddleback, 2009, p.1). However, since aluminium is a non-ferrous material that does not react to magnet, an eddy current separator is use to remove the aluminium from the rest of the waste. The resulting magnetic field from fast-rotating magnets repel the aluminium while ferrous metals are retained (La Mantia, 2002, p.255). In other words, aluminium is sorted by inducing an eddy current in the metals causing the metallic conductors to repel from the region of the magnetic field and out of the conveyor path (Office of Technology Assessment, 1997, p.263). Plastics and glasses are usually sorted manually based on a certain criteria. Plastics are sorted by type, separating those that can be melted and reformed again. Some are sorted according to quality as some plastics contained unwanted coating or contaminations that are difficult to remove (Barrow, 1999, p.232). Recycling plastic is commonly dependent on the grade of the plastic, end use of the recycled plastic, and degree of contamination mentioned earlier (La Mantia, 2002, p.247). It is therefore necessary to pay close attention when collecting and sorting plastics particularly when it comes from households and businesses consuming different plastic types. In contrast, glass for recycling is sorted by colour, clear, amber and green while materials such as metal bottle tops, corks, ceramic materials and so on, that may contaminate the glass are removed (Go Facts, 2006, p.20). Glass is recyclable but sensitive to contamination from ceramic materials such as bone china and safety glass, lids and differently coloured glass (Verghese et al, 2012, p.224). In essence, recyclable materials are not organic waste that can naturally decompose like common household garbage. Recycling is making new product from waste such as used paper, bottles, plastic containers, and others. However, waste should be sorted as not all materials can be recycled particularly those that are contaminated. Recycling not only reduce energy use in production and save natural resources but eliminate the need for sanitary landfills. 4. Developing the Communication Tool The tool developed for this project is based on the concept of “reduce, reuse, and recycle”. It is a brochure that contains valuable information on how schoolchildren can save the environment by being familiar with recycling and the materials that must go to the recycle bin. The brochure contains five sections. The first one, the “Do You Know” section deals with different types of recyclable materials such as tin cans, plastic and glass bottles, newspapers, magazines, and others. The purpose is to help children identify different recyclable materials and understand the importance of keeping glass bottle lid intact for recycling. The second section is more detailed as it deals with the proper location of different recyclable materials that will be thrown in the recycle bin. The objective is to make schoolchildren realize the importance of sorting or separating waste materials intended for recycling. For instance, glass containers should go at the bottom of the bin while plastic containers belong to the upper most section of the recycle bin. In contrast, the third section deals with waster materials that should not go to the recycling bin. These materials as shown by text and images in the brochure include plastic bags, kitchen waste, nappies, fabric, clothes, shoes, and others. The purpose of the “Free Service” section on the other hand is to inform schoolchildren of other materials that may be collected and recycled such as furniture, garden tools, white goods, building materials, metal products, and others. This part is actually a free service for collecting waste materials that will not fit the recycle bin and requiring additional effort from the project organizers. The last and final section explains the three important steps in saving the environment. Here, schoolchildren will be able to familiarized themselves to the concept of reduce, reuse, and recycle and learn how to minimize the impact of climate change by reducing the amount of waste, reusing old items for other purpose, recycling to eliminate the need for raw materials coming from the natural environment, and protect the environment in their own little way, Introducing the concept of reduce, reuse, and recycle have a number of benefits as children knowledgeable of basic recycling can contribute to the preservation of our environment. However, communicating and educating children with age ranging from two to four through a brochure is not easy as some of them are too young to understand the purpose and objectives of the project. For this reason, the brochure is designed with informative images to support the messages. For instance, illustrating the proper location of recyclable materials with their images can help schoolchildren visualize the material and its proper location in the recycle bin. Similarly, use of images to illustrate waste materials that should not go to the recycle bin (those with red x) helps schoolchildren visualize that they are intended for landfills. This project enables me to work collaboratively with other people particularly those that are involved in recycling and environmental programmes. For instance, along with the group, we had an opportunity meeting and being educated by Linda Kwong of the Hume Recycle Centre about the processes of recycling and other issues in sorting waste materials. Observing and exchanging views about the landfills we visited enable us to understand importance of proper waste management and the impact of methane gas in our environment. Development of a communication tool is never easy as it involves familiarity with target audience or population. The development is further made difficult by the fact that it should designed in a manner understandable to young schoolchildren. However, the recycle centre tour, actual observation of landfills, and additional information provided by the Hume Recycle Centre help us understand recycling and the environment better and reflect our knowledge in the brochure. Moreover, since we were young schoolchildren before and committed in preserving our environment, we somehow managed to identify schoolchildren needs and design the brochure according to their learning preferences. 5. Final Reflection on the Project Working collaboratively with others is one good side of this project as working with people who are committed in saving the environment and actually recycling waste materials is a great opportunity. Moreover, the project not only enhanced my understanding of environmental preservation strategy but encourage me to educate others about the positive impact of recycling and the possibility of sustaining our way of life through reduce and reuse of waste material. The project also made me aware of the importance of effective communication and the advantage of knowing your audience and having full knowledge of the issues that will be presented to them. 6. References Barrow C, (1999), Environmental Management: Principles and Practice, UK: Routledge De La Mantia, (2002), Handbook of Plastics Recycling, UK: Lightning Source Publications Friss R, (2012), The Praeger Handbook of Environmental Health, US: ABC-CLIO Giugale M, Oliver L, & Nguyen V, (2001), Mexico: Comprehensive Development Agenda for the New Era, US: World Bank Publications Go Facts, (2006), Recycling, US: Blake Education Jedlicka W, (2009), Packaging Sustainability: Tools, Systems and Strategies for Innovative Package Design, US: John Wiley & Sons Leonard B, (2001), Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks, US: DIANE Publishing Morgan S, (2009), Waste, Recycling and Reuse, US: Evans Brothers Office of Technology Assessment, (1997), Materials and Energy from Municipal Waste, US: DIANE Publishing Paige B, (2009), Beltane Magic, US: Jacqueline Paige Publishing Palm V, Ribacke S, Rypdal K, & Tangden L, (1999), Inventory of Climate Change Indicators for the Nordic Countries, Copenhagen: Nordic Council Ministers R.I.C, (2007), Climate Change- The Ultimate Challenge, US: R.I.C. Publications Saddleback, (2009), Recycling Reading Level 3, US: Saddleback Educational Publications Verghese K, Lewis H, & Fitzpartrick L, (2012), Packaging for Sustainability, Germany: Springer Walker K, (2007), Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Rethink, Australia: MacMillan Education Wehr K, (2011), Green Culture: An A-to-Z Guide, US: SAGE Zhu D, (2007), Improving Municipal Solid Waste Management in India: A Sourcebook for Policy Makers and Practitioners, US: World Bank Institute Read More