We are going to look at the ecological footprint for aluminum verses glass recycling. From an assessment of their footprints we will evaluate which one is more beneficial, both economically and from an environmental standpoint. To accomplish this we will compare the processes of recycling and making glass and aluminum from scratch to see which one uses the most energy and uses more natural resources. From there we will assess the costs associated with recycling at our college, and how successful the program is. From there, we will propose ways that might improve the amount of materials recycled and reduce the cost.
This project will also include creating posters, flyers and a web page to tell others what we have discovered doing this project. We will also use surveys to see if people have changed their behavior and started to recycle more. Our goal for this project is to have people be persuaded, from the information provided in our project, to recycle more.
The components of the ecological footprint for making glass
Sand, heat/energy, machines, transportation,
The components of the ecological footprint for recycling glass
Heat/energy, machines, transportation
The components of the ecological footprint for making aluminum
Mining, machines, energy/heat, transportation
The components of the ecological footprint for recycling aluminum
Heat/energy, machines, transportation
Through using surveys our group will ask questions like what they knew about recycling before (the pre) and then evaluate what they knew with a survey after our project and see if there are any behavioral changes in their habits.
The more that people recycle will result in an increase in the cost that the college spends in recycling and in transportation.
We will have a website to be updated throughout the project, Posters and flyers to be hung around campus through out the week, and a survey with candy. The posters will cost $0.85, markers for the flyers $2-$4.00, candy $2.00. Posters and flyers will be distributed around campus in the bathrooms, dorms, and various buildings, and flyer bulletin boards. The survey will take place in the cafeteria in Worner, where we will distribute candy to encourage people to take the survey. The survey will last a few days (Monday and Tuesday). The posters will be up for seven days, they will be put up on Wednesday and taken down the following Wednesday; the last day of the block. The flyers we will also put up on Wednesday, but we will leave them up as long as possible so that more people can read them. The website will be posted on Friday and will be up dated as more information becomes available.
Provide public education which would increase the amount that people recycle, and this would increase the cost of recycling and the transportation involved in recycling. Recycling saves energy because we're not remaking aluminum or glass from scratch, and we reduce the waste produced.
Monday
Yangchen: Look at waste audit
Yangchen and Tiffany: set up meetings with people on campus, get information on web pages about recycling glass and aluminum, and compile the information we already have
Christy: survey questions, and get the survey posted
Group meeting (evening)
Tuesday
All: More data gathering and compiling
All: Worner survey
Tiffany and Yangchen: Meet with people on campus
All: Begin campus out reach: create posters flyers, etc.
Group meeting (evening)
Wednesday
All: More data gathering and compiling
All: Compile survey information
All: Hang flyers and posters
Start an outline for the report and the presentation
Christy and Yangchen: Campus meetings
Group meeting (evening)
Thursday
All: More data gathering and compiling
All: Begin to write report, presentation, web page, graphs
Group meeting (evening)
Friday
All: More data gathering and compiling
All: Report finish, presentation, web page
Group meeting (evening)
Sat.
All: Report final copy, presentation, web page
All: Practice presentation
Group meeting (evening)
Mon.
All: Report and Presentation
Group meeting (evening)