SHWPCE
Bill Bardin
Homework 1
1.1
1.2
See Excel worksheet for details and graph.
In an ideal world, or at least one better than the current one, recycling would be a
way of life. In order to improve the efficiency of recycling new packaging
material would be necessary. There should be a higher level of biodegradability,
less diversity among packaging materials. Each home should have a recycling
machine with a bin where items are placed and then a process is initiated to grind
the material and place it in individual bins depending on the material. This system
is still dependent on the operator selecting the correct type of material.
1.3
When properly incinerated, although there are a number of incinerators in the US,
the bulk of our waste still goes to landfills. Photo degrades in landfills, not likely
since sunlight is required and it’s hard to find sunlight under six feet of garbage
and dirt. We really need to move to reusable bags of some type. The only way to
do that is to incentivize the public. Either give them reusable bags and pay them
each time they use them, or charge a fee for using plastic bags. The states could
also establish a revenue stream by charging a tax of $0.01 per plastic bag used.
1.4
Engineers should not be the determining factor in the siting of landfills.
Engineering groups should be commissioned by municipalities to evaluate
potential sites and present a comprehensive evaluation of the options. It would
then be the responsibility of the municipal officials to determine the final site.
1.5
I think I would focus on two aspects of the project that would have the greatest
public impact. First, I would produce 27 8×10 color glossy pictures with circles
and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one
was to be used as evidence against expanding the current landfill. Second, I would
explain that we now have a need for a secure landfill and explain the related costs.
This should paint the recycling option in a favorable light, e.g. if we recycle, it
will only cost $X as opposed to $XXX for the new landfill. Another option would
be comparing the transportation of the waste to an incinerator in a larger
municipality 50 miles away.
1.6
I don’t believe a zero-waste program on the residential level is possible at this
time. A company can do it because they can control the composition of the
materials being brought into the facility. In a town, this would be next to
impossible.
1.7
Some of the things I do to reduce waste from the grocery store are; buy smaller
quantities when possible, not bagging small quantities of fruits and vegetables e.g.
onions, garlic, apples, limes, lemons. I often buy meat from a butcher where it is
wrapped in paper not plastic and Styrofoam. I use reusable bags when possible
and put as much as I can in plastic or paper bags if I use them.
1.8
100% Recycled
1.8.1 It is important to understand the source of the recycled material. It’s possible that
a product that is labeled as 50% recycled material has no post-consumer material
in it; it just comes from an inefficient process.
1.8.2 I am usually very conscious of recycled content and will buy products that make
the most of it, however, when it comes to food packaging, I try to minimize the
amount of recycled material that comes in contact with the food since the source
is usually unknown.
1.8.3 “This package is made using X% recycled material and X% post consumer
recycled material. As long as you can always back up the claim, you should use it
to your advantage.
1.9
I use as few plastic water bottles as possible by replacing them with stainless steel
water bottles. Coffee grounds and other waste food products are composted.
Waste oil is recycled at an approved recycling facility or filtered and burned for
heat.
1.10 Recycling symbols
1.10.1 The only symbol I see real value in is the one on the lower right “this product is
recyclable”. All the others are merely marketing tools that can be used to some
degree to determine the recycled content of the package/product.
1.10.2
1.11 Recycled paper
1.11.1 75% recycled content is impressive until you look at the breakdown, 55% is preconsumer which indicates an inefficient process at the manufacturer. If this is how
inefficient they are with their product, it probably carries over to their other
processes as well.
1.11.2 50% recycles content, on the surface, is less impressive until you look at the
sources. Only 10 % of the recycled material comes form the factory with the
balance coming from the consumer. The 10% number would indicate that they
have an efficient process that does not produce much waste compared to the
process in 1.11.1.
1.12 Current levels for recovered paper use are 36-37%, as of 2007 (latest EPA data). I
currently use paper that is 50% post-consumer content.
1.13 Plastics 1 – 7 can be recycled in my community. All plastics can be recycled to
one extent or another. Many, like thermoplastics, can be melted and often be
reused in the same application. Thermosets cannot be melted but can be ground
up and used as fillers in other products.
1.14 X
1.15 Out of all the items listed in the question, only the shoes and clear plastic bags
cannot be placed in our recycle containers.