Transcript Slide 1
Hypothesis:
Recycling Among Students is greater
within Lennon when compared
to the library
(or so we thought)
By Dan Hager and Schuyler Daugherty
SUNY College at Brockport Statement:
“Our future depends upon recycling. All students
are strongly encouraged to participate in our
recycling program. Each room/suite is provided
with bins for recycling. Details are available from
your resident director (brockport.edu).”
National Facts
“Twenty years ago, only one curbside
recycling program existed in the United
States, which collected several materials
at the curb. By 2005, almost 9,000
curbside programs had sprouted up
across the nation. As of 2005, about 500
materials recovery facilities had been
established to process the collected
materials (epa.gov).”
50 percent of all paper is now recovered
for recycling (epa.gov)
Campus Recycling Trends (brockport.edu)
2003-2004
2004-2005
226.4 tons recycled
45.28% of waste was recycled
204.7 tons recycled
40.94% of waste was recycled
2005-2006
207.8 tons recycled
41.56 % of waste was recycled
Monroe County Trends
(monroecounty.gov)
Homes:
Business/Institutions:
Optional recycling
Metal cans, empty aerosol cans, plastic (1/2), glass,
gable top cartons and drink boxes.
Includes school districts and colleges
Are required to recycle office paper and corrugated
cardboard.
Restaurants (including bus./inst. with cafeterias):
Following containers required: metal food and
beverage cans, plastic bottles and jars, glass bottles
and jars and gable top cartons.
Methods
Compare the amount placed in recycling
vs. trash bin
Used a single island in the Library Vs.
the Lennon Computer Lab
Recycling bin near printer vs. trash bin
Placement of bins next to each other
Simultaneously survey: one person in the
Library a second in Lennon
Peak time of day.
Methods Cont.
At 10:30 on Friday 4:20
Observed student recycling trends for
one hour
At both sites:
Trash can placed closer to the printer than
recycling bin
Only inches apart
Normally the bins are separated
Results
Lennon
Library
trash
Paper
bottle
other (non)
other (recy)
about 12 ppl
recycle
5
trash
recycle
paper
8
food container
3
coffee cup
2
about 14 ppl
Results Cont.
Lennon
100% of the recyclable items were
placed in the trash.
Library
100% of recyclable items were placed
in the recycling bin
Conclusion
Hypothesis was proven incorrect
Possibly due to the placement of the trash bin
Function of convenience -> Indicates laziness
Lack of observance to which receptacle was being
used
Lack of education
Further Testing
Larger population
Time: Different/Longer
Locations of bins (laziness theory)
Implications of Results
Direct Environmental Effects
More waste in landfills
Cost effectiveness (buying more paper)
Indirect Effects
Loss habitat
Deforestation
Increase fuel consumption
Pollution from processing
plants/factories
Ways to Increase Recycling
Location of bins
Education
One bin/trash can
High traffic areas/use areas
Importance of recycling
What can be recycled in Monroe County
Government Encouragement
(Miller, 265)
Increase subsidies and taxbreaks recycled
materials.
Decrease subsidies and tax breaks for
manufactured items that are made from raw
material.
Work Cited
http://www.brockport.edu/publications/yrtk
/html/oncampus.html
http://www.brockport.edu/facilities/policies/
recycle.htm
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/nonhw/muncpl/recycle.htm#Figures
http://www.monroecounty.gov/desresidentialrecycling.php
Miller, G. Tyler. Sustaining the Earth.
Brooks/Cole. Pacific Grove, CA. 2005.