APES—Recycle City Activity
Name: _
__
Background:
Just a few years ago, this place was called
Dumptown. For years, the folks living here hadn't
thought much about where waste went when
they threw it out. And, eventually, that became a
very BIG problem...
Things that easily could have been reused or
recycled were tossed in the trash, because
nobody believed recycling made a difference. At
the dump, they threw dangerous chemicals and
poisons (hazardous waste) into the regular
garbage (solid waste).
They learned to reduce the amount of waste they threw away. For example, they bought items at the
store that weren't wrapped in extra packaging, so there would be less to throw away. They learned to
reuse other things—like washing out empty jars instead of throwing them away. And, they learned to
recycle. They set up bins around town to collect glass, paper, and aluminum that could be converted back
into raw materials, then made into new products.
Finally, they closed the old city dump and built a new solid waste landfill outside of town. With the town's
new image, it needed a new name, and Recycle City was born. Travel around Recycle City and find out
what folks here are doing to reduce waste and make the environment better.
To get started, just click on the Dumptown Game. When you leave this place you'll leave knowing much
more about what you can do to help protect the environment. Have fun!
Procedure:
1. Using Internet Explorer, navigate to http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm
2. Click on “Dumptown Game”
3. Click on “Play the Game”
4. Notice the problems related to municipal solid waste that occur in “Dumptown”
5. Click on City Hall to view the potential recycling programs you can use to improve solid waste
management in Dumptown
6. Use the following questions to guide you through the development of different recycling programs for
Dumptown.
Objectives & Questions:
1. (a) What type of material makes up the largest percentage of solid wastes in the simulation? (b) How
much is generated daily?
(a) __(Select One)__
(b) __
_tons/day__
2. (a) Which single recycling program offers the greatest potential for reducing the amount of solid wastes
generated by Dumptown? (b) How much solid waste can be recovered through this program?
(c) How much does it cost to implement?
(a) __(Select One)__
(b) __
(c) __$
_tons/day__
____
3. (a) What is the maximum amount of revenue the city can gain from implementing recycling programs?
(b) Which programs would be implemented?
(a) __$
___
(b) ___(Select One)_ & _(Select One)_
4. Due to budget cuts, the city has no funds for implementing a recycling program. (a) How much solid
waste can be reduced without spending any money except for that generated by other recycling
programs? (b) What programs would you implement?
(a) __
tons/day__
(b) ___(Select One)_ & _(Select One)_& _(Select One) & _(Select One)__(Select One) & _
(Select One)_
5. The city budget allows for $100,000 to be spent on recycling programs. (a) What combination of
programs would allow for the maximum reduction in solid wastes? (b) How many tons of solid
waste can be reduced?
(a) ___(Select One)_ & _(Select One)_& _(Select One) & _(Select One)_&__(Select One)_& _
(Select One) & _(Select One)__
(b) __
tons/day_
6. Assume the city budget allows for $200,000 to be spent on recycling programs. (a) How much solid
waste can be removed from the waste stream with these funds? (b) Which programs would you
put into place?
(a) __
tons/day__
(b) ___(Select One)_ & _(Select One)_& _(Select One) & _(Select One)_&__(Select One)_ & _
(Select One)_& _(Select One) & _(Select One)__
7. (a) How many tons of solid waste can be reduced solely by the recycling programs of businesses &
industry? (b) What is the cost to initiate such programs?
(a) __
tons/day__
(b) __$
___
8. (a) What combination of recycling programs allows for the reduction of organic wastes by at least 20
tons per day without costing the city any money?
(a) ___(Select One)_ & _(Select One)_& _(Select One) & _(Select One)__
9. As mayor, your primary concern is to reduce the amount of paper produced to under 50 tons per day
without spending more than $25,000. (a) What combination of programs are you likely to put into
place?
(a) ___(Select One)_ & _(Select One)_& _(Select One) & _(Select One)__