Recycling

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Recycling

• An Easy Way to
• Promote a Healthy Planet
• Anita SenGupta
• May 15, 2007
• Deerfield Township Board of Trustees

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Presentation Outline

• Recycling is an easy, proactive way to help
  protect the environment and sustainability
• This presentation will focus on the following
• Background information
• Social Tangent how recycling is viewed in
  society
• Economic Tangent cost/business benefits
• Scientific Tangent biodegradable plastics
• Outreach Component Government Initiative in
  Recycling

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Recycling How It Is Done

• Newspaper, mixed paper, brown bags, magazines,
  numbers 1 and 2 plastics, aluminum, steel, and
  glass are recycled by consumer
• The recyclables are taken to a Materials Recovery
  Facility to be sorted and compressed into large
  cubes
• Materials are sold and shipped to companies to be
  reprocessed

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A Quick History

• 1896 First recycling plant was created in New
  York City
• 1940s WWII helps develop a reuse mindset in
  Americans paper, rubber, metal are reused
• 1954 Olympia, WA starts the pay-per-can
  program
• 1976 The Resource and Recovery Act is passed to
  promote waste management, recycling, and
  conservation
• 1994 EPA creates Jobs Through Recycling for
  economic development and recycling through
  grants, networking, and information sharing
• 2000EPA establishes that recycling and reduction
  help curb and halt global climate change

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Social Outlook

• Nationally, recycling is on a steady rise, but
  still has room to grow
• Environmental movement in the 1960s and 1970s
  gave recycling a boost
• As seen in previous slide, governments support
  recycling, particularly the EPA
• EPA has annual goal of 35 of possible recyclable
  materials being recycled

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Recycling By the Numbers

• At school, I conducted a survey of the junior
  class regarding recycling. Important results
  included
• - 98 said recycling was important
• - 17 percent said they did NOT recycle at home,
  citing difficulties such as
• confusion about recycling schedules
• recycling is not readily available
• recycling is a hassle
• - 42 had a rough idea about what was supposed
  to be recycled
• - 74 only recycled when facilities were
  available

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Recycling By the Numbers

• At school, I conducted a survey of the junior
  class regarding recycling
• Important results included
• - 90 said the government should take more
  initiative in recycling, citing reasons such as
• that the management of resources is a basic
  cause society should focus on
• concerns about landfill space
• the need for education and awareness about
  recycling
• the governments role in society

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Recycling By the Numbers
86 of Americans have access to curbside recycling
65 of Americans recycle plastic bottles
53 of Americans recycle white paper
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The Economics of Recycling

• Because of a social push towards
  environmentalism, companies now find it
  profitable to promote recycling and other green
  habits
• Starbucks Coffee uses part recycled products in
  its cups and sleeves. It also sells refillable
  mugs to reduce paper consumption.
• Many office supply stores, for example, Staples,
  sell recycled paper
• DuPont is a leader in social and environmental
  responsibility
• By supporting environmental responsibility, these
  companies develop trust with consumers and
  promote responsible habits

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How Local GovernmentsCan Take this Into Account

• A local government has much influence on a
  community
• Unifying
• Sets tone of the community
• therefore, the government can promote social and
  environmental responsibility within the community
  by
• Commending those who are environmentally aware
  and active
• Publicly demonstrating environmental
  responsibility

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What Deerfield Township Can Do

• Make recycling accessible
• Set up recycling facilities right next to every
  trash can and clearly list what should and should
  not be recycled
• Send out public awareness flyers
• Encourage people to recycle in their own homes
  and clarify what can be recycled

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Prospective Sign on Recycling Bin

• KEEP DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP
• CLEAN AND GREEN
• Please Recycle
• - Paper
• - Glass and Plastic Bottles
• - Aluminum Cans
• Do your part!

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Prospective Mailed Flyer (Text)

• KEEP DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP CLEAN AND GREEN
• Recycle in your home!
• - Please recycle Newspaper, mixed paper, brown
  bags, magazines, numbers 1 and 2 plastics,
  aluminum, steel, and glass are recycled by
  consumer show pictures
• - Community Mission Statement (i.e. Here in
  Deerfield Township, we are committed to using and
  reusing are resources wisely. We encourage
  members of the community to do their part by
  recycling. Recycling is an easy way to help the
  earth!)
• Contact Rumpke for a Recycling Bin!

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• THANK YOU