Recycling Erskine Andrew Russel Gallinger Nathan Robert Gallardo
Recycling Erskine, Andrew Russel Gallinger, Nathan Robert Gallardo Montoya, Santos Ivan Ton, Steven That
Recycling and the Environment • Plastic requires more work to be recycled than other materials (glass, metal, etc. ) • There are many things we can do and cannot do to help the environment • Simplicity changes depending on the plastic
Environmental Problems • • Toxicity Pollutants Landfills and “Mummification” Main problems from litter
Environmental Solutions • Thermoplastics – plastics that can be re -melted and reused • Biodegradable plastics – helpful to environment, but not perfect • Problem: too costly and limited for general use
Environmental Conclusion • The ability to recycle plastic varies on type • We must work to make the public aware of plastics that harm the environment
Recycling and Human Health • Impacts of E-Waste Recycling – Direct Impacts • Dust in indoor air generated in manual and mechanical dismantling processes • Noise emissions during the manual and mechanical dismantling process (Conveyor belts, hammering, shredders, etc. )
Recycling and Human Health • Impacts of E-Waste Recycling – Indirect Impacts • Air Pollution • Emissions due to transporting materials • Contamination of water systems and soils near landfills
Human Health Problems • Older TVs and monitors contain several pounds of lead while poisonous metal is used in circuit boards. • Consumers always want the latest and greatest technologies, so more and more ewaste is generated every year. – Hazardous materials are contained inside almost every consumer electronic • Computer CPUs and monitors • TV’s • Speakers
What happens to Old Electronics? • When old electronics get thrown into the trash, the poisons inside them can leach into soil and groundwater. These contaminants are known to damage human and animal nervous systems as well as cause cancer. • In 2005, the EPA estimated – 45% of consumer electronics are stored and reused – 44% are sent to landfills or incinerators – 11% are recycled
Human Health Solutions • Reuse of the materials or resell them to others • Safely dispose of electronics – Fujitsu now offers a biodegradable plastic laptop chassis which can decompose in just a few minutes – Trade-in programs (cellphones)
Recycling and Ecology • How does plastic effect the organisms that share our environment? • How does IT contribute to the problem of plastic in Ecology?
The Effects Of Plastic on Animals • Various sea animals such as sea turtles, whales, and fish die by thousands to plastic then they mistake the bits of plastic for food. (land animals as well) • Plastic bits absorb and carry with them deadly toxins into the habitats of other organisms.
IT Implications • Computer E-waste in the ocean • Cell phones and other small electronics contaminate the soil. • Burning of E-waste releases toxic gases that can contaminate animals and their food supplies.
Ecology Solutions • Using the canvas of cloth bags that can be reused instead of plastic bags.
Recycling and Economics - Cost • The COST of NOT recycling – Increase depletion of non renewable materials (petroleum) – Increase of CO 2 emissions – Extra use of landfill • Of the 2. 7 million tons of plastic bottles on U. S. shelves in 2006, four-fifths went to landfill • The money it takes to transport waste to lanfills
Cost • The COST of recycling – High start-up monetary cost • 8 to 10 million dollars for new facilities (popular mechanics) – It is for the most part more monetary expensive than just taking it to the landfill. – Energy is still used to recycle.
Economic Solutions • Increase the amount that a person recycles voluntarily or by mandatory manner by governmental policy – The increase of supply will cause and increase the demand for recycling facilities • Which will bring down cost • The increase in recycled material will also make the use of it more abundant and cheaper
Technology • Technology – More efficient sorting plants • IT Technology – The use of barcodes – electronics (Towards intelligent recycling)
Economic Conclusion • The cost of recycling outweighs the cost of NOT recycling • New technologies strive to make recycling more efficient
IT Intervention • How does our project involve information technology? – Video – Website • Online calculator
Dissemination / Evaluation • Distribution of project? – Internet • Youtube • Website • How will you know that you’ve done a good job? – Online counter – Youtube video views
Resources • What do you need to do the project well? – Web space – Camera – Computer software
Roles • Which group member will do which projects? – Video – Research – Website – Etc.
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