Sagicor Visionaries
Challenge - 2014
Title of Project:
Names and e-mail
addresses of
Students:
StyroNOam
Alyssa Hernandez (alyssa.addy.hernandez@hotmail.com), Melesa Chow
(melesa_c@hotmail.com), Maribel Wu (maribelwu@gmail.com), Christina Aldana
(kristinacecilia1998@yahoo.com), Karen Quan (eeebear_kar@hotmail.com)
Team Name:
Name of School:
Address of School:
Phone No. of School:
Name of Mentor, if
any:
Name and e-mail
address of Teacher:
Signature of teacher
or school official:
StyroNOamers
Saint Catherine Academy
#6 Hutson Street, Belize City, Belize
+501-223-4908/+501-223-1758
Ingrid Acosta
Date:
Check box that best
describes your entry
Abstract
October 30, 2014
Category A: Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture, Environment
X
Category B: Engineering, Physics, Computer Science
Ingrid Acosta (iacosta@sca.edu.bz)
Styrofoam plates are overused in our school community. It is used to
package food for the students who purchase their lunch from the
school cafeteria. One hundred and fifty students purchase lunch on a
daily basis which amounts to approximately 3,044 Styrofoam plates
used in a month.The use of non-biodegradable Styrofoam conflicts
with the mercy value of caring for the environment. Furthermore,
Styrofoam contains small quantities of Styrene which increases the
risk of various health hazards. Styrofoam plates also add to the total
mass of garbage our school has to dispose. The school pays US$385
per month on disposal and purchasing of Styrofoam plates. As a
solution to this problem, we plan to implement the use of reusable
plastic containers instead of Styrofoam plates. This will contribute in
reducing operational expenses, environmental degradation and
waste. Although the initial investment in the acquisition of the plastic
containers is significant, a revenue surplus is expected in a 1 year
time frame in contrast to maintaining the current system.
Problem Statement and
the Significance of the Problem
Our school’s cafeteria uses approximately 3,044 Styrofoam plates to distribute food to the entire school
community on a monthly basis, but they also need to do so efficiently. These Styrofoam plates
contribute to the volume of garbage that our school has to pay to dispose. Styrofoam is not
biodegradable; this directly conflicts with our mercy value of caring for the environment.
Objectives of the Project
By implementing the use of reusable plastic containers we plan: 1, to reduce the monthly payment for
garbage disposal which will offset the school’s expenses; 2, to eliminate the harmful effects of
Styrofoam plates on the school population and environment, and 3; to introduce a cost effective and
eco-friendly container to distribute food among our school community which will make the cafeteria
more efficient.
Approach/Proposed Solution
The successful implementation of the proposed project includes the following steps:
1) Replace Styrofoam containers with plastic containers (Figure 1) to distribute food at our school.
The containers we plan to purchase are available at a website for special ordering. We plan to order
the containers to be shipped to Belize. To do this, we will need to obtain money from sponsors, fund
raising, and with assistance from the school’s cafeteria budget.
Figure 1
2) Redesign our school cafeteria. Because these plastic containers are to be used daily, there must be
a redesigning of the cafeteria to properly store and maintain these containers. The design will include
storage space for the containers, a sanitizing area, and a drying area, as well as space for cooking and
distribution of food.
3) Implement a QR Code system to ensure containers that have been distributed are returned. Other
schools that have substituted their containers with reusable ones have had the issue of having lost or
stolen containers, and therefore had to replace them. We plan to design a system using QR Codes to
track how many containers are distributed and how many are returned at the end of the day. The QR
Codes will also enable us to identify the user of the container and therefore, will be able to impose a
fine on lost or damaged containers. Tablets will be used as QR Code Scanners. These tablets will be
contained in an acrylic security box mounted onto walls.
4) Set up collection stations. We plan to set up three collection stations. Each of these will be placed
in an area of the school that is highly populated during lunch. Each collection station will include a
three compartment garbage bin, a removable shelf for stacking the containers, and a tablet used as a
QR Code Scanner.
i.
Three Compartment Garbage Bin (Figure 2): One compartment will be used to dispose scrap
food or organic material (bones, leftover food, etc.). Another compartment will be used to
dispose inorganic material (spoons, forks, etc.). The third compartment will be used to dispose
bottles.
ii.
Removable shelf for stacking containers: After each student has disposed of their waste
materials, the will stack their container on the removable shelf. The removability of the shelf
will allow the cafeteria workers to easily transport the containers from the collection station to
the cafeteria.
iii.
QR Code Scanner: Each student will then scan the QR Code on their Student I.D. Card as
proof that they have returned their container.
Figure 2
6) Implement a Sanitization System in order to properly clean the reusable plastic containers. Because
the use of harsh chemicals such as bleach and detergents are as harmful as styrene, we plan to use
UV-C Light, along with regular washing with water and dishwashing soap, as a form of sanitization.
UV-C Light is a form of Ultraviolet rays that emits radiation that kills bacteria. We plan to use this,
along with washing and air drying on racks (Figure 4), to properly sanitize the containers. The
cafeteria workers will be trained to use UV-C Light wand (Figure 3) to properly kill the bacteria on
the containers so they can be sanitized for use on the following day.
Figure 3
Figure 4
Projected Costing:
Initial Plastic Container Costing
Cost
Population (USD)
Packs Req. Plastic Container
(12)
Costs
Additional
Costs
Total Investment
(USD)
Cost per Year
(USD)
630
25
$ 546.38
$ 1,796.38
$ 5.99
50.00
$ 1,250.00
Styrofoam Costing
Total
Cost
Monthly Investment
Population (USD) Usage
(USD)
630
$ 385.00 3044
$ 4,620.00
Student
Styrofoam
usage per
used per year year
36,528.00
45
Cost of 1
Styrofoam
(USD)
$ 0.13
Cost per
student per
year (USD)
$ 5.75
Cost Comparative (Styrofoam vs Plastic Container)
Container
Styrofoam
Plastic
Initial
Population Investment
Size
(USD)
630
$630
$ 1,250.00
Containers
Cost
Total
used
Monthly Purchase Investment (month)
(USD)
Period (USD)
(USD)
$ 385.00
12
$ 4,620.00
3044
$1
$ 1,796.38
804
Cost per
Student
per yr
(USD)
Additional
$ 5.75
$ 5.99 $ 2,823.62
The Competition
It is without a doubt that other schools around the world have adapted the use of plastic containers
instead of Styrofoam plates. Problems have arose, however, such as the irresponsibility of students
to return the plates and also the inability to trust whether or not the containers are properly sanitized
for reusing. Our proposal to implement a tracking system with the use of QR codes and a UV-C
light wand to sterilize plates will solve these problems. It is not to be questioned that cleanliness
is one of the most important factors when it comes to food preparation and distribution. It is a
mandate that at any food distribution center with reusable containers to wash the containers in a
three compartment sink which includes the three processes of soaping, rinsing and chemical
sanitization; this process is rather effective but not time efficient compared to our proposal to use
a UV-C light wand which is both effective and efficient with a guarantee of sanitization.
Resources Needed
Resources
Price (US) Form of Contribution
Reusable plastic containers
UV Sanitizer Hand Wand
Garbage disposal and container
collection device
Tablets
Racks for air drying
containers
Acrylic Security Boxes
Paper for printing QR Codes
$48.99/12
$24.99
$89.45
Fundraisers
Fundraisers
Sponsors
$49.99
$398.00
Sponsors
Sponsors
$24.95
$8.99/600
sheets
School
Fundraisers
BREAKDOWN OF INITIAL INVESTMENT FOR PLASTIC
CONTAINERS
Timetable
Task
Performed
By
1. Ordering & Shipping of
k containers and UV-C wand
2. Rearranging of the
cafeteria
3. Installation of cabinets
School
4. Printing of QR codes
on student ID
5. Installation of garbage
disposal and container
collection device
6. Installation of tablets
Technician
7. Sterilization of containers
Cafeteria Workers
Wk.
1
Wk. Wk. Wk. Wk. Wk.
2
3 4
5
6
Carpenter and
Cafeteria Workers
Carpenter
Students
Technician
Use of STEM
Science: Understanding that using reusable plastic containers will prevent all the harmful effects that
Styrofoam has on human beings and the environment
Technology: Using UV-C sterilization wand to clean the plastic containers and generating QR Codes
and scanning them using applications on tablets
Engineering: Designing an improved layout of the kitchen to accommodate the changes that come
along with implementing the reusable plastic containers
Mathematics: Calculating and comparing the expenditure when using reusable plastic containers and
the expenditure when using Styrofoam plates.
Community Involvement and Community Impact
Our school community would be involved in the implementation of reducing Styrofoam by cooperating
with the changes made by replacing Styrofoam containers with reusable containers. It is necessary for
their cooperation because the students and faculty are those that will be most affected by this change.
The cafeteria staff will also play a major role in implementing our idea because it will be their job to
maintain and continue using the reusable containers for distributing food. The funding for this, of
course, will not be possible without the assistance of the school, fund raising and possible sponsors.
We anticipate that our project will reduce the amount of Styrofoam used in the school community and
eventually eliminate it completely. This can also significantly reduce the amount of money spent on
garbage monthly and eliminate the further contamination of Styrene.
References
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/jade-green-get-ec-01-3-compartment-reusable-ecotakeouts-containers-9-x-9-x-3-1-2-12-case/375EC01JA.html
http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/How_Styrofoam_is_Bad_for_the_Environment
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KHM8NMI/ref=s9_hps_ft_g147_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPD
KIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center3&pf_rd_r=1HR0410QY9Y9Q71CK4FV&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=1757726282&pf_rd_i=1000932
301
http://www.amazon.com/Avery-Permanent-1-5-Inches-Packaging-22805/dp/B0058M2YLS
http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html
http://www.green-4-u.com/2008/05/22/why-styrofoam-is-bad/
http://businessbarbados.com/trending/green-business/the-dangers-of-polystyrene/
http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/styrofoam-really-isbad-for-your-health
http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Sanitizer-Violet-BacteriaSterilizer/dp/B00C7O9CEC/ref=pd_sim_hpc_11?ie=UTF8&refRID=144E7YMDBCCJN2R2SDA2
http://www.instawares.com/get-food-container.get-ec01ja.0.7.htm
http://www.wireline.net/cabinetdryingrack.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Acrylic-Locking-Security-Display12/dp/B00CYQ0V9S/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1416874350&sr=811&keywords=acrylic+security+box
http://www.amazon.com/Organize-It-All-Stainless-12Gallon/dp/B0014RG5NY/ref=pd_sim_hg_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TG0N11JYR56FPXV3J2Q