SoReMo Final Presentation_Transparency in Recycling Culture
An Exploration into the Necessary Transparency Needed
in the Recycling Culture
Md Mahmudur Rahman
Master of Landscape Architecture+Urbanism
College of Architecture, IIT
Caitlin Brown
Bachelor of Architecture
College of Architecture, IIT
Photograph: Laura Sullivan/NPR
The lack of education and transparency in the industry and the culture around recycling has led to misunderstanding and misinformation in regard to the status of recycled materials and their environmental impact which will continue to lead to environmental harm in the future. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 2018 only 8.7% of all plastics were recycled. According to a more recent report published by Greenpeace, that percentage has decreased to only 5% in the year 2020. Yet plastic is still pronounced as a 'recyclable' material with little regard for the more complex and wider context. Many people still are under the illusion that all or at least most plastic is easily recyclable with no material strength degradation but that is not the case. Plastic is just one material in which we can see the impact of the lack of transparency and education. We see these issues of recycling and landfill management impact minority communities at a much higher rate than those of the majority community.
One such example of this impact is in the community of Englewood. While it may seem small and insignificant, these issues impact a variety of environmental aspects like soil and air quality which play a larger role in both mental and physical health. Our research and mission is to consider both local and larger elements like industry, policy, and culture to create a possible proposal and steps to address the issues of transparency and education in regard to the larger recycling industry and culture with ways to mitigate the issue at hand. By taking a look at both the global and local scale we will be able to quantify the possibility of success with each potential proposal in order to figure out what will work best for Englewood and create a framework for other minority communities. Elements of transparency has been addressed by furthering education in regard to how the recycling process goes, the policy in play, and the role that the recycling industrial complex impacts. Our motivation is to create a more equitable future and minimize the impact of environmental racism in our communities.
2 Research Objectives
Understanding the current trend of recycling by studying:
Industry
To identify the problems, it is important to understand the material cycle, from manufacturing to the user.
Lack of Transparency
One of the main problems identified is the lack of knowledge about the proper use of a material, its recycling, or its reuse.
Environmental Racism
Communities of color have been disproportionately affected by various environmental harms.
Education System
Lack of education revolving around recycling and the impact it has on health has had a recorded dramatic affect on health.
Proposal and
steps to address the issues of recycling:
Scopes in Education
In our current education system, where we have areas of application for integrating awareness of using, reusing, reduction, and recycling education.
Guideline Proposal
Creation of a series of strategic guidelines to improve the current condition using existing infrastructure.
Utilization of Secondary Material / Recycled Materials in Community Construction
Use recycled materials in public construction as an opportunity to raise awareness.
Community Education
Formal and informal education, including a training program for building a generation of awareness.
3 Methodology
3.1 Industry
The manufacturer cycle of a product:
3 Methodology
3.1 Industry
After the use of a product, we can recycle it or simply reuse it.
3 Methodology
3.1 Industry
The end-of-life cycle of a product:
3 Methodology
Current situation of the city of Chicago:
3.2 Lack of Transparency
Definition of Recycling
THERE IS NO INDUSTRY STANDARD DEFINITION OF RECYCLING WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.
This means that often times waste used in the production of energy, shipped overseas, or waste collected but then rejected can and will be counted depending on the reporting party.
3.2 Lack of Transparency
The consequence is, we don't even know which number stands for recyclable and which is not.
3 Methodology
3.2 Lack of Transparency
EPA Recycling Report 2018
In 2018 the EPA reported 35,680 thousand tons of plastic recycled in the United States which amounts to 12.2% of plastic produced that year was recycled.
Greenpeace Recycling Report 2020
Greenpeace reports of the 2.1 million tons of plastic put into recycling only 5-6% of plastic was actually recycled in 2020.
Note: ‘Generation before materials are recycled, composted, managed by other food pathways, combusted with energy recovery or landfilled. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial process wastes or certain other wastes’ (EPA Report)
Note: ‘The original comprehensive, objective survey of acceptance of plastic items at U.S. residential material recovery facilities for curbside recycling has been continually updated since its creation in October 2019 and was reverified in August 2022. The survey was performed and verified by technically qualified volunteers of The Last Beach Cleanup: two registered professional chemical engineers and a recycling industry expert. The acceptance information was found in the public domain and is publicly shared to promote transparency and establish a traceable account of facts related to “recyclable” claims and labels for plastic products.’ (Greenpeace report)
3 Methodology
3.3 Environmental Racism
Map showing impact of redlining on social vulnerability index in Englewood.
3 Methodology
3.4 Education System
We created a mind map of the inter connectivity of the education system to understand it properly and to determine our scope of engagement.
4 Proposal
Our proposals are in the area of community education and engagement.
4 Proposal
4.1 Scopes in Education
Intervention areas in education system
4 Proposal
4.2 Guideline Proposal
Waste collection system
Existing System:
Individual residence has individual garbage can/ recycle "blue bin" which are picked up by government agencies and taken care of.
Proposed System:
We propose community engagement to add residential, block, and community-based sorting levels to build a better system. And there will be community composting and recycling center as well.
4.2 Guideline Proposal
Residential
Dedicated space for sorting and primary storage of waste and also a vegetable garden which will be used as a direct compost micro-pant.
Neighborhood sorting of waste. It has containers and tool kits that can be used by neighbors.
Backyard vegetable garden will reduce the overall load on community waste composting plant.
Imaginary residential plot has been illustrated representing Englewood, Chicago, IL
1.25 min walk ( 1/16 of a mile)
The S Halsted St has been illustrated representing Englewood, Chicago, IL
4 Proposal
4.2 Guideline Proposal
Community
The flow diagram of waste in the community scale
Community Recycling Center
Community Compost Center
The S Halsted St and W 59th St node has been illustrated representing Englewood, Chicago, IL
4 Proposal
Recycled construction materials
4.3 Utilization of Recycled / Secondary Material in Community Construction
Secondary recycled materials will be used in public construction, which will make people more conscious of the proper use of waste.
Furniture made of secondary materials Wooden temporary shade by using reused wood logs from site/mill
The S Halsted St close to the Trail has been illustrated representing Englewood, Chicago, IL
4.3 Utilization of Recycled / Secondary Material in Community Construction
Example: Plastic > Recycled Glass
Material Cycle: Glass
4 Proposal
4.3 Utilization of Recycled / Secondary Material in Community Construction
Example: Plastic > Gjenge Pavers
Material Cycle: Glass
4.3 Utilization of Recycled / Secondary Material in Community Construction
Other Examples:
Material Cycle: Textile
Material Cycle: Paper
Material Cycle: Metal
4 Proposal
4.3 Utilization of Recycled / Secondary Material in Community Construction
Secondary Materials
Reclaimed Materials
4 Proposal
4.3 Utilization of Recycled / Secondary Material in Community Construction
Real life usage scenarios
Resource: D.I.R.T. Studio
4 Proposal
4.4 Community Education
Recycling education encourages people to take action towards improving life and protecting the environment by using materials that would otherwise be considered as waste as raw materials.
Community Composting, Photograph from ilsr.org
4 Proposal
4.4 Community Education
Signage for reused or recycled materials will be prominently displayed so that information is transmitted appropriately and loudly.
4 Proposal
4.4 Community Education
More information should be provided on recycling bins to inform people about what to recycle and how to do so. Additionally, which waste that can turn into secondary material will be on the billboards.
Waste Bin in Paris (Own Photograph)
4 Proposal
4.4 Community Education
Availability of community-based recycling centers to engage the community by themselves.
Additional tax benefits may be proposed for homes that demonstrate the greatest amount of recycling to be encouraged.
Punt Verd, Community Recycling Center in Barcelona.
5 Conclusion
There is numerous evidence, that minority communities suffer the most from adverse effects on the environment. Waste management is part of the impact as well. Englewood is a community with a long history of progress and prosperity. Unfortunately, after the redlining, the socioeconomic situation deteriorates considerably. To improve the situation of waste management, education on recycling will be a major factor at this time. According to our study, some policy efforts, incorporating recycling education formally and informally and ensuring community engagement can make things better.
Note: To improve upon this analysis a multi long year study would need to be conducted that tests education initiatives in an attempt to improve the impact of recycling.
‘What's more, incinerators are often situated in poorer communities that already have a high burden of air pollution from sources such as heavy industry and transportation. Residents of these areas face health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, childhood asthma, exposure to carcinogenic pollutants, and preterm births, according to a 2019 report published by the New School'sTishman Environment and Design Center, with support from the GlobalAlliance for IncineratorAlternatives (GAIA).About 4.4 million people in the U.S. live
within a 3-mile radius of an incinerator, according to that report.’
‘The Big Problem With Plastic’ By Kevin Loria
Illinois Tech: What we have?
Campus Sustainability Projects:
● Recycling Program
● Organic Waste Composting Pilot Project
● Recyclemania
Challenges:
● Funding
● Continuety
● E-waste
Data collected from Office of Campus Energy and Sustainability, IIT
Illinois Tech: What we have?
Totally recyclable and compostable waste is 40.17 tonnes annually (2020 data). Most of the amount is sent to the recycling facilities in the city. The on-campus composting facility is despicable in volume. The composting program were unused for a long time. Recent step has been taken to restart that program.
Illinois Tech: What we have?
Recommendation
Though we have an Office of Campus Energy and Sustainability, that's not enough. We need campus-based funded research on waste management. We should have a zero-waste policy from the university’s higher authority. And additionally, we should restart and enlarge our existing composting program on campus. A campus recycling center should be an ambition at this point. And most importantly, engaging the student community should be ensured through various activities, occasions, and programs.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Sonja Petrovic, Maria Villalobos, Ramon Ramirez, and the rest of the SoReMo Fellowship team and our other fellows for the support and help to get to this point. It could not have been done without you all. Thank you.
