To Recycle or Not To Recycle April Wittcop & Dan Bishop

Overview 1. Introduction 2. Recycling Trends and Efforts 3. Methods 4. Results 5. Suggestions

Introduction to Plastics Altogether there are more than 10,000 different kinds of plastics. It takes percent less energy to manufacture plastic grocery bags than paper ones. It takes seven trucks to deliver the same number of paper bags as can be carried in one truckload of plastic bags. Plastics make up about 11% of American’s Municipal Solid Waste by weight. – This is approximately 25% of America’s total Municipal Solid Waste by mass

When purchasing plastic products it is important to know which can be reused and which cannot. – (link) (link) PET Polyethylene Terephthalate Two-liter beverage bottles, mouthwash bottles, boil-in-bag pouches. HDPE High Density Polyethylene Milk jugs, trash bags, detergent bottles. PVC Polyvinyl Chloride Cooking oil bottles, packaging around meat. LDPE Low Density Polyethylene Grocery bags, produce bags, food wrap, bread bags. PP Polypropylene Yogurt containers, shampoo bottles, straws, margarine tubs, diapers. PS Polystyrene Hot beverage cups, take-home boxes, egg cartons, meat trays, cd cases. OTHER All other types of plastics or packaging made from more than one type of plastic. Recycling Codes

PET 17.5% HDPE 9% PVC 0% LDPE 2% PP 5% PS 1.4% OTHER 1% Statistics

32% of all Municipal Solid Waste is recycled in the United States 50% of all paper 45% of aluminum drink cans 63% of steel packaging 67% of all major appliances 34% of plastic bottles – (epa.gov) Statistics

In Baltimore, Maryland a facility on Harris Creek has been installed to help catch the debris that would normally enter Baltimore Harbor. This net system currently collects approximately 5 tons per month. The purpose of this project is raise public awareness as to how much trash is being funneled into waterways through litter in the streets, residential, commercial and industrial areas. – recycling.org/general/interceptor.htm recycling.org/general/interceptor.htm – Trends and Efforts; Baltimore Harbor

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has proposed an expanded bottle bill at a press conference Tuesday February 27 th, – Under the expanded bottle bill, carbonated drinks would not be the only beverages with a requires nickel deposit. The new bill would include noncarbonated bottled drinks such as iced tea, water, sports drinks and juice among others. – The new bill would also mandate that money from unclaimed deposits go into the state Environmental Protection Fund; something grocers, convenience store operators and Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, R, C, I – Brunswick, have voiced their opposition to Trends and Efforts; The Bottle Bill

HARTFORD -- The proposed expansion of the state's bottle bill to include plastic water containers cleared the Finance Committee this week and could be headed to the Senate for a vote. The proposal, which would create a five-cent deposit on all plastic water bottles of two liters or less, cleared the Finance Committee by vote Tuesday (April 10 th ). –Container-Recycling.orgContainer-Recycling.org Trends and Efforts; The Bottle Bill Continued

“Surveys conducted by Procter & Gamble and others show that while most people expect their plastic to be recycled, they won’t go out of their way or pay a few cents more to buy a bottle made of recycled plastic.” (Energy Information Administration)Energy Information Administration

So we wanted to find out how often students at SUNY Brockport recycled their products and furthermore if they knew which products were recyclable in Monroe County. We hypothesized that SUNY Brockport students would recycle more plastics than the general public does because students are more aware of the results of recycling. Methods

Then in the Seymour Student Union we surveyed everyone that would agree to listen and answer some questions. Then we sat back and watched as people disposed of their waste products, keeping track of which ones went where. Methods

We asked them the following questions: – Do you know what plastics can and cannot be recycled in Monroe County? – Do you buy recyclable products even if they cost more? – Have you ever taken an Environmental Science class? – If there were recycling bins next to every garbage can, would you divide up your waste in order to put recyclables in the recycle bins? Methods

Of the Students Surveyed: –30% Physical Education Majors –10% Business Majors –10% Math Majors –20% English Majors –20% Environmental Science Majors –10% Other Majors Methods / Results

When Asked Our Survey Questions These Wear the Results: – Do you know what plastics can and cannot be recycled in Monroe County? 30% yes – 70% no – Do you buy recyclable products even if they cost more? 16% yes – 84% no – Have you ever taken an Environmental Science class? 30% yes – 70% no – If there were recycling bins next to every garbage can, would you divide up your waste in order to put recyclables in the recycle bin? 74% yes – 36% no Results

The percent of students that said they did know which types of plastics were recyclable was consistent with the percent of students that had taken an environmental science course. – The students that were Environmental Science majors had a better understanding of what was recycled. Even though 74% of students would split up their waste to recycle what they could, most will not go out of their ways to purchase products that are recyclable to begin with (84%). Discussion

When asked why students will not go out of their ways to purchase recyclable products here were some of their responses: – “I don’t really thing about that when I buy a product.” – “I don’t know which ones to look for.” – “I don’t have any extra money to spend for the same product in different packaging, I go for what’s cheaper.” Discussion

63% of the products disposed of by students during observation were put into the trash. The other 37% were placed into recycling. Only 54% of the products seen disposed of should have been placed into the trash (as per the Monroe County Recycling Regulations. 1s and 2s!) Results

When combined, the two charts on the previous page show that approximately 9% of the recyclable products currently being sold on campus are not being recycled. – This is VERY high/good! – However: There is an even larger percent of products that could be recycled if more recyclable products were sold/used on campus. Results

The students that threw their products away outnumbered the students that recycled their products. – What might be a good explanation for this activity? – Are there any ways that we, as students, can increase the percentage of waste that gets recycled vs. going into a landfill/trash? Results

Some suggestions to raise recycling and awareness: – Require an Environmental Science class (similar to the Contemporary Issues class requirement) – Sell only recyclable plastics on campus – Placement of more recycling bins; both for paper and plastic containers – Designate what products can be recycled in which containers Suggestions