ENVIRONMENT & POLITICS
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NOVEMBER 22, 2013
THE RPI EXCHANGE
“TURNING ONE PERSON’S TRASH INTO ANOTHER PERSON’S TREASURE”
AN ORIGINAL PITCH FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION BY:
Bradley Jewett
George Kyriakakos
Dominique Roubé
Alwin Joy
Lucas “Che” Zarate
Andrew “Dodger” Cage
Matthew Tabak
Qixiang “Greg” Chen
The RPI Exchange
Contents
Opening ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
Aims, Location, and Site Justification........................................................................................................ 3
Potential for Scaling Up and Out............................................................................................................... 4
Related Projects and Involved Organizations ........................................................................................... 5
Rationale ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Implementation Schedule ......................................................................................................................... 9
Location, Development, and Outcome ................................................................................................... 11
Stakeholder Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 11
Stakeholder Involvement ........................................................................................................................ 13
Political, Economic, and Social Trends .................................................................................................... 14
Potential Barriers and Solutions ............................................................................................................. 15
Evaluating Success .................................................................................................................................. 16
A Solution to the Problem At Hand......................................................................................................... 17
Closing ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
Works Cited ............................................................................................................................................. 19
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Opening
Alex is an incoming college student majoring in nuclear engineering at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, ready to begin a new adventure. As his parents help him unpack the dorm
room essentials: his bedding, clothes, and action figures, he realizes he still has his old laptop of
3 years. It still works, but Alex really wants a new laptop via the RPI mobile computing program.
During the next week he receives his new ThinkPad™ from the school. He is very excited and
over the next couple weeks he gets used to the new computer.
However, several weeks pass and he realizes that his old laptop has just been sitting
under his bed collecting dust and taking up space. For a college student in a small dorm room,
this space is essential. He tries to reason with himself that he will use it again at some point, but
eventually admits that he probably never will. He realizes that he has to get rid of his old laptop,
but he is torn: there is nothing wrong with it, and it still has sentimental value - it would not feel
right to throw it away.
Being very passionate about keeping the environment clean, Alex realizes that by
throwing his laptop away he would be adding to the 250 million tons of trash that go into
landfills each year in the USA alone 2. Considering that the old laptop works perfectly fine, this
would also be a waste of useful technology. This puts Alex in a difficult position: not only would
throwing his laptop away be a waste of good technology, it would also be harming the
environment. Landfills cause the release of 5.6 million tons of methane gas each year along with
other carcinogens 2 and have the potential to contaminate groundwater with toxic substances
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such as lead, beryllium, arsenic, mercury, antimony, and cadmium 5 for generations to come.
What is Alex to do?
That is where the RPI Exchange comes in. The Exchange would be a student-run group on
the RPI campus that would facilitate the recycling of old and used technology, clothing, and any
other items via flea markets that are held several times a year. The Exchange would also host a
website that allows for the selling and exchanging of such items in between markets. Our aim is
to help keep unnecessary trash out of landfills by turning one person’s trash into another
person’s treasure and by doing this ensure the health of the environment for future generations.
Additionally, we intend to spread the themes of thriftiness and sustainable consumption, by
encouraging the prolonged use of items that would otherwise be waste.
Aims, Location, and Site Justification
The aim of this project is to provide a safe, convention-like atmosphere where the
residents of Troy and students of RPI could come together and exchange goods. A
supplementary aim is to create a website similar to an online bulletin board or request board
where the students of RPI communicate with each other digitally for the sake of purchasing and
selling specific goods on the off-days of the seasonal flea market. The aim is to have something
that everyone in the city can enjoy and derive function from.
The project could be located at the Blitman Residence Commons parking lot, at the base
of the RPI approach. This location offers plenty of open space and is geographically
advantageous to both the citizens of Troy and the students of RPI. Parking is readily available,
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and the location offers restrooms. Blitman seems ideal for the days when the weather and
climate are not so much of an issue. In the cases of bad weather or during the winter months,
the Armory could serve as a possible indoor nesting place for this flea market. Although out of
the convenient reach of most Trojans, the Armory offers a spacious local, protection from the
elements, and available parking. However, the Armory still serves as a viable option for the
winter and rainy months. If negotiable with the Troy City Government, the event could move to
Riverfront Park in Troy to offer more convenient access to the City.
Potential for Scaling Up and Out
The original “pilot” RPI Exchange would largely determine its future success. If there is a
lot of support from students and the people of Troy, there is potential for the flea market to
expand in size, frequency, and complexity.
The RPI Exchange is beginning as a technology focused flea market for the reason that
RPI is a technology savvy school. If the flea market grows in interest, it could possibly focus on
more of the other assets of an average flea market. This could include the sale of local items,
promoting the commerce of Troy. Perhaps the flea market could even merge with the local
farmer’s market into a market-like event.
Furthermore, while the exchange is aimed to operate twice a semester, this is only an
initial guess based on how popular the event might be. In the future, the event could be hosted
more often depending on the perceived popularity.
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In regards to expanding outward from campus, there are many other colleges that
already have flea markets. In the future, the RPI flea market could merge with other college
based events, expanding the seller and consumer base. This could be accomplished by
community meet ups, as well as negotiations over the internet. The set up location of the flea
market could also be changed if the project goes well. Some events could be hosted within Troy
and others closer to the RPI campus, varying by the event.
In addition to expanding the market’s influence geographically, graduating RPI students
may feel the initiative to establish a local flea market wherever they end up. This could bring
similar events to countries all over the world, due to the geographic reach and influence of the
job market and school. With the potential of the website, this concept could be mimicked
internationally and could have a large impact on the amount of waste, specifically E-waste,
stored in landfills globally, helping to preserve the environment for generations to come.
Related Projects and Involved Organizations
Some similar projects underway include various flea markets at the high school level,
such as the Palo Alto high school flea market, the Kennedy high school flea market, and the Elgin
high school flea market. Flea markets at a university level include the Arcadia University and
Colorado State University flea markets. The Arcadia market has been going on for many years
and still continues strong. It has shown great success not only environmentally but also in
building a strong relationship between the university and surrounding town. According to
Stephanie Oddi, a junior who attends the university, “sometimes the little walls around Arcadia
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can seem like we’re trying to keep the community out and the students in, but that’s never been
the case. With the flea market, and all the other events run by the Community Service Office, we
get the chance to invite the community literally onto our campus to participate in events that
students have organized.” 1
Arcadia University has shown that a flea market can be established at a large organization
such as a university, and that it can be quite successful in reducing waste, and bringing the
community together. This example embodies what we are trying to achieve: a successful flea
market at university scale. The themes of community and sustainable consumption flow very
strongly in these other examples of implementation; a strong argument for the success of our
endeavors.
Rationale
From an outsider’s perspective, the RPI flea market may seem to be simply reducing raw
waste by shuffling products from one consumer to the next. But underneath the surface, the flea
market has great potential to do more. By recycling old technology, RPI and Troy can keep
electronic waste from entering landfills. According to a study done by the EPA in 2010, E-waste
totaled upwards of 2.4 million tons of waste, only 27% of which was recycled 3. The same study
states that over 528,000 computers and mobile devices are disposed of each day, 142,000
computers alone 3. Assuming the average surface area of the broad side of any given computer
(desktop or laptop) is 119 square inches, this volume of waste could cover the entire 275 acres
of RPI’s campus in just over three months. Many of the other unique and inventive solutions to
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sustainability issues in and around campus consist of small changes to existing systems. While
these changes are realistic in implementation and add up to a more sustainable campus, they
are often difficult to notice from a bystander’s point of view. For the citizens of Troy, these
changes can only be harder to see and notice on a day to day basis.
Fortunately, the RPI flea market seeks to change this outlook. In creating a community
event and meeting point, this project aims to facilitate not just the exchange of physical goods,
but ideas and information as well. As the creators of this project, we have intended for this flow
of knowledge to permeate the campus and Troy community, providing a real opportunity to
experience sustainable consumption firsthand. In this modern age, more and more companies
targeting the consumer mindset seem to plan the obsolescence of their products: even if this
year’s iPhone is a rather insignificant upgrade from the last, it is the new iPhone. Many
consumers see this as a good enough reason to throw out the perfectly good phone they already
have. As noted in the previous example, the technology industry is particularly susceptible to
such a mentality. With such an accelerated rate of innovation and change, the technology
market is a perfect target for this consumer mentality. By reinvigorating themes of thriftiness
and sustainable consumerism, this project can greatly benefit the people of Troy and the
students of RPI.
Organization and Expertise
This project, should it be implemented, requires the well-coordinated efforts of a group
working in tandem. With multiple problems requiring simultaneous solutions, some sort of
organizational group or institution should be found, or created in the event that it does not exist.
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In the most optimistic scenario, there exists a club or group on campus that would be willing to
join with us (the founding members) in an effort to manage this flea market. Such a club should
show interest in sustainability on campus, and the relationship between RPI and the community
of Troy, NY. EcoLogic might be one potential club on campus interested in such an endeavor.
Regardless of involving another club, some kind of organizational structure must be
implemented to oversee the market, whilst running and all times in between. The quintessential
role in getting this project off the ground would be the president of the market. This leader
would hold most of the upper-level responsibilities within the organization, primarily in
coordinating group work and being the on-call decision maker during the market. Under the
president would sit a group of vice presidents suited for specific operational needs, being
(hopefully) diverse in skills.
One such vice president would be the vice president of administrative relations, formally
charged with all matters related to the RPI administration. This individual would be the primary
liaison for administrative communication, and would be particularly important in getting the
initial market to happen. This person would be tasked with securing the facilities for the market,
and acquiring approval for the event to run with the RPI logo. Such a person should be
comfortable in meetings and presentations, able to represent the group’s interests. This would
be a great position for someone participating in the student government at RPI, requiring the
same kind of skill set.
The vice president of facilities would also play a huge role in the actual operation of the
market. This individual would be in charge of setup and teardown, and ensuring the clean and
productive use of the space that is provided. This vice president would be working closely with
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maintenance, aiding with the transport of tables, chairs, and tents to the site. Finally, this vice
president would need to manage the parking lot in use for the market.
The demands for marketing and web services could be delegated to multiple people if
necessary, although a single vice president with the necessary skills would be optimal. The vice
president of marketing and web services would be in charge of the marketing campaign around
campus, and in the city of Troy. These duties would require time to hang up flyers and
advertisements and moderate social media groups in an effort to promote the event. In addition
to the advertisement, the vice president would be responsible for the website running tandem
to the event. Duties would include web hosting and moderation.
The final position would be the vice president of donation inventory, and would have
fairly specific duties. These would include managing the overflow of donations during the “off
season,” transporting them to and from a storage facility, and running the donation table at the
actual market. Someone with strong logistical skills, strengths in bookkeeping, and access to
transportation vehicles would be ideal for this position.
Implementation Schedule
Six key phases must be implemented to ensure the success of this project. Phase one
consists of setting up the basic infrastructure of the group and establishing it as a club if
necessary. During this phase, the key positions mentioned above will be assigned so that the
event planning can go smoothly from the beginning. These positions will be appointed at first,
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but as the organizational group grows, a more democratic method for selection could be
adopted.
Phase two is to talk to the RPI administration and acquire permission for facility use; our
event is taking place directly on campus and will cause a slight disturbance. Therefore, it is
essential to get their permission and support beforehand.
Phase three involves acquiring resources and funding for the project, which will be done
in a multitude of ways. If we could found a club we could receive club funding via the Student
Union activity fund, given that our cause is right and we operate on a year-round basis.
Partnering with existing sustainability-themed club, acquiring sustainability grants, or obtaining
funding from the City of Troy or the Institute could also help fund the event. Realistically, money
from concession stands at the actual event, and possibly charging a $2-3 fee for each table at the
market could procure an adequate amount of funding, assuming no profits are being taken
away.
Phase four would involve advertising and promoting the event because more people will
come to the event if they know when, where, and what the event is. This advertising could be in
the form of hanging flyers around the school and city, getting it into the Morning Mail, and
promoting the event via Facebook and other social media, extending the invitation to the Troy
community. Phase five would be the most important phase; actually hosting the event. This will
be the culmination of all our previous efforts and will allow us to truly see how successful this
event can be.
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The final phase is a reflection phase where we evaluate the event. We look at what went
wrong, what went right and what can be improved on in future events. Overall, by following
these key phases it will allow for a smooth start to implementing this project in the long run.
Location, Development, and Outcome
The location of the project, which will vary throughout the year from the Blitman
Residence Commons parking lot to the Armory, will help to shape project development. This is
largely due to the fact that it will allow RPI students to participate in the event, but more
importantly the Troy residents as well. This will allow for the project to develop in size and
expand the audience that it reaches, producing future growth.
The outcome of this project will change drastically if we are unable to secure the
proposed locations. Public exposure and convenience of location are two factors that greatly
contribute to the success of any business or convention. The RPI Exchange is no different, and
obtaining said locations is crucial to the success of this project.
Stakeholder Analysis
The key stakeholders in the project are vast in number. They include RPI students, the
residents of Troy, the RPI administration/faculty/maintenance, the city of Troy, the parents of
RPI students, recycling companies, waste disposal companies, environmental clubs and
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technology/computer clubs on campus, and the residents of the Blitman Residence
Commons.
The RPI students are stakeholders because they will be directly participating in the event
and will be directly affected by the event occurring on campus. The event will also allow them to
free up space in their dorm rooms, which is essential, and will allow them to acquire cheap
items: advantageous for the typical college student budget. The residents of Troy are also
stakeholders because the event is quite close to them, provides them with cheap and affordable
goods, and ways to get rid of their unwanted goods. The city of Troy would also be a stakeholder
since this event could provide economic stimulus to Troy and would allow for the establishment
of a better relationship between RPI and the city of Troy.
The RPI administration, faculty, and maintenance staff would also be stakeholders since
we would need help acquiring materials for the completion of this project and would need the
support to help set-up and maintain the event in venues aforementioned. The Blitman residents
would also be stakeholders because they would be extremely close to the event. This is good in
the sense that they have easy access to the goods that are sold, but negative in the sense that it
could cause them quite a disturbance if they do not want to participate.
The parents of RPI students would also be stakeholders because they could find a sense
of well-being while their sons or daughters are participating in this type of event. At the same
time, they could be affected negatively in the sense that their sons or daughters may now be
spending more money on the multitude of cheap options available. At the same time, some
parents may see this as a great opportunity for learning thriftiness – hopefully reducing student
expenditures in the long run.
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The environmental and technology/computer clubs on campus would be large
stakeholders because they could help support the event, which would allow them to expand the
scope of their club if we merged with them. It could also provide cheap technology, and allow for
the environmental clubs to further their cause via sustainable consumption.
Finally, recycling and waste disposal companies could be largely affected by this event. If
this event is effective, the waste disposal companies will have less trash to pick up, which could
be bad for business, while the recycling companies would have more to recycle, which is good
for business.
Stakeholder Involvement
The plans to involve stakeholders such as the RPI students, Blitman residents, RPI faculty
and administration, the residents of Troy, and environmental and technology/computer clubs
are numerous. First, the RPI students and Blitman residents will (hopefully) be directly
participating in the event. In turn, they will be furthering the cause to protect the environment
by buying and selling old/used goods and keeping them out of landfills. In order to get as many
students involved as possible, advertising will have to be widespread so as to get more people to
come. This also goes for Troy residents in the sense that they will also be directly participating in
this event, however more advertising will be needed since they are not directly on campus.
Due to the nature of the project, the outcome of the first market will provide the positive
and negative feedback to improve it over time. The number of stakeholders that attend, the
number of goods traded, and the overall community impact would all prove invaluable in
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refining the project as time goes on. As for the RPI faculty and administration, they will be
directly involved when helping us setup and monitor the event. Additionally, all faculty members
would be invited to participate or spectate the event, if they felt like joining in the festivities.
As far as the environmental and technology/computer clubs go, they may want to help us
with the event and maybe even merge with us as a club. The public reception gained could prove
invaluable in future public projects. Overall, there are many ways in which the stakeholders
could be involved in this project, should they choose to heed our invitations.
Political, Economic, and Social Trends
As a result of working closely with the Troy community, the economic state of this region
will likely impact the reception of this event. Being one of the more disadvantaged communities
in the area, this event will be more likely to attract business from Troy because it would provide
cheap and affordable goods, while reducing prices at the dump. This is important because in a
wealthier community people may not be as willing to buy used goods when they could easily
afford new ones. With regard to the social trends involved, this is a college campus: very much
about socializing and hanging out with friends. This event provides plenty of opportunities for
said socialization, contributing to the success of the event in the long run.
We hope this event will provide a basis for exchanging thoughts and ideas, in addition to
physical goods. The concepts of thriftiness and sustainable consumption are critical to our
efforts: hopefully these trends can be imparted to the community of Troy as a product of our
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work. By providing opportunities for repurposing and reintroducing old items to the market,
sustainability will become much more tangible for citizens outside the RPI campus.
Potential Barriers and Solutions
The most significant barrier to the RPI Exchange is securing adequate funding. Without
adequate funding the event would not be able to run. Some potential solutions to this issue are
mentioned above in phase three of the implementation schedule, but various fundraisers could
be held throughout the year leading up to the market to further acquire funds. Another barrier
to the success of this project could also be acquiring the necessary labor for setting up and/or
taking down the event. This labor would most likely have to come from the students, who would
have to volunteer, which could prove difficult when they have no incentive to come. Because of
this, serious labor issues could arise and the event may not be run quickly and effectively.
Providing an added incentive to students, such as allowing them to choose exactly where they
want to set up their booth first before anyone else if they are participating in the market, or a
waived table fee may provide motivation. Another issue will be finding space for the storage of
all the technology and other items during the time between markets. In reality, not everything is
going to get sold: due to limited space on campus for storage, this “trash” could become a large
issue once the event is over. A potential solution to this could be renting a storage space or
something of that nature in order to store all the excess items so they do not take up too much
space on campus, which would have to be paid for in some way.
Finally, the possibility of unusable technology or other types of trash being donated is a
pressing and important issue. We are afraid that people may just come with completely broken
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things meaning to dispose of them, since Troy is not that wealthy of a city. If the event becomes
large enough, this incidence would become hard to monitor, and it could end up demeaning the
true benefits of the event. A potential solution to this could be putting limitations and/or filters
in place, such that unusable items can be filtered out before the event starts. This is not an ideal
solution because we want to encourage everyone to participate, but may be necessary if this
becomes a major issue.
Evaluating Success
We will evaluate the success of the RPI Exchange after each market is held, gauging the
effectiveness of our strategy in a variety of ways. The number of people in attendance will be the
primary factor used to determine the success of the event, in terms of marketing needed and
the draw of customers. Second, the raw volume of goods traded may very well be a good
indicator of popularity and interest. Third, the overall organization of the event will be a key
factor in deciding its success. If it got out of hand, tables were not being monitored, and so forth,
we may need to rethink the success of the scale of this project. Throughout the process, the
student group running the market could collect data based on the above statistics, including the
number of tables rented and the number of parking spaces used. A meeting could be held in
conclusion to the market, where these metrics could be discussed and analyzed by the group.
Based on the observed trends, the market could either be scaled up or down to better serve the
needs of the community. Furthermore, these metrics and numbers would better quantify the
environmental impact of the event itself.
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A Solution to the Problem At Hand
If the project is successful, it could help slow the accumulation of trash in local landfills,
which causes many significant environmental issues as mentioned in the opening. By exchanging
goods locally, the shipping costs of new goods could be largely avoided. This is both beneficial
financially, but also has an environmental benefit. If the event is successful, it could become
popular and migrate to new parts of the region. Eventually, the market idea may start to spread
all over the country, resulting in large tangible differences in the amount of waste produced. By
dumping less trash in landfills, an overall improvement in the health of the environment might
be seen. By inspiring themes of thriftiness and sustainable consumption, the RPI Exchange hopes
to educate the community on spending in better ways for themselves, and the environment.
Closing
Thanks to the RPI Exchange, Alex went to the Blitman Residence Commons parking lot for
the September event, donating his old computer at the donations table. This gave him a sense of
accomplishment in that his laptop, or its parts, will find a good home and that he helped to keep
unnecessary waste out of landfills. This helped to solve his dilemma, and also allowed him to find
other cheap items to make his new dorm room feel more like home. Additionally, he socialized
with people he never would have been able to: residents from Troy who had also come to check
out the event. In conclusion, this event would allow RPI students and Troy residents to actively
aid the environment in keeping unnecessary waste out of landfills. Not limited in scope or effect,
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the market would also allow people to find cheap and affordable goods, while at the same time
strengthening the relationship between RPI students and Troy residents.
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Works Cited
Arcadia University. (2013, September 25). Unique and Affordable Finds at the Fall Flea Market, Sept.
29. Retrieved from The Bulletin: http://bulletin.arcadia.edu/2013/09/unique-and-affordable-finds-atthe-fall-flea-market-sept-29/
1
Covanta Energy. (2013). Harmful Effects of Landfills. Retrieved from Covanta Energy:
http://www.covantaenergy.com/what-we-do/energy-from-waste/harmful-effects-oflandfills.aspx?source=efw_info
2
Electronics TakeBack Coalition. (2013). Facts and Figures on E-Waste Recycling. Retrieved from
Electronics TakeBack Coalition: http://www.electronicstakeback.com/wpcontent/uploads/Facts_and_Figures_on_EWaste_and_Recycling.pdf
3
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). E-Waste: Environmental and Health Hazards.
Retrieved from Iowa Department of Natural Resources:
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/LandStewardship/WasteManagement/Recycling/Ewaste/Haz
ardsofEwaste.aspx
4
Recycling for Charities. (1999-2013). Electronic Waste Environmental Effects. Retrieved from
Recycling for Charities: http://www.recyclingforcharities.com/environmental-effects-of-e-waste.php
5
The Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste). Retrieved
from United States Environmental Protection Agency:
http://www.epa.gov/oiamount/toxics/ewaste/index-uew.html#ewastetabs
6
The Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, Novemeber 14). Wastes - Resource Conservation Common Wastes & Materials - eCycling. Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection
Agency: http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/faq.htm
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