Face the Waste 2008
From Ecologic
Ben Hunt came up with a large-scale idea that will engage students to learn about recycling. Through tables and booths, piles of recyclables, give-aways, and a constant presence, Face the Waste is an exciting undertaking. The administration will be sponsoring this event. This will be the cornerstone event of Earthweek. Ben and the rest of us are working on a Updated Project Proposal to submit to the administration by next week.
Please visit the draft copy and add any ideas. Thank You. Updated PDF of Proposal
Face the Waste pamphlet for Distribution Face the Waste Pamphlet
Contents |
Mission Statement
Face the Waste 2008’s mission is simple: to both educate and awaken the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students and faculty to the effect, size, and reimplementation potential of recycling here on campus, and on a global scale as a whole. FTW is aspiring to be the biggest campus recycling/sustainability demonstration to date of its kind at any University.
A general lack of understanding exists about what recycling is in terms of how it works and what benefits it can bring this campus and society as a whole. This lack of understanding is manifest through a general detachment of bottle to waste stream; once the bottle falls into the recycling bin, where does it go? What does it become? These questions coupled with the lack of understanding of the process of recycling ‐ recycling lessens the embodied energy of, for example, aluminum manufacturing (from can to can as opposed to from ore to can) – create an overlying apathetic view towards recycling.
FTW will attempt to educate the campus through various waste refuse installations on campus that both reflect RPI’s current consumption and our potential for positive change. It is of the utmost importance that these installations remain completely objective – through concrete facts and research ‐ so as to allow student participants to form their own opinions, their own subjectivity.
Recycling is just a small part of becoming Sustainable, both as an institution and as communal mindset, and can be considered a “gateway” practice or a first step. FTW seeks to educate on this practice of recycling, hoping that it might lead to a more conscious campus.
RPI’s cultural and exciting event relationship with its students has also recently been questioned. This could also be an opportunity to create an enjoyable, fun spring event for the entire campus and might be well complemented by other campus wide events during Earth Week. FTW will in no way, shape, or form impede routine daily class or campus activities.
Outline
The primary goal will be to ensure that the event remains an interactive learning experience as well as a both positive and enjoyable event for all.
- Face the Waste will take place during the five school days of Earth Week from Monday April 21st to Friday April 25th. During these five days, the recycling installations will have been installed in traffic heavy areas (see attached campus map) and be hosted by student volunteers. FTW will be coupled with other Ecologic and SSTF events during this week, but FTW will generally exist and run in and of itself.
- Each installation will be composed of one type of waste stream material (aluminum, glass, cardboard, or plastic etc… that RPI and its students use) piled into a large, overt pile/stack. The amount of material will be derived from a certain context relevant to RPI’s usage; 3 week’s worth, one week, 5 days, etc...)
- Along with this pile of waste, will be a pile/arrangement of secondary stream product (a product derived from the material on display). It is important that secondary stream product be understandable as such.
- To become more interactive and to create incentive, especially incentive for students to visit every installation, installations will include a chance to win the secondary stream product, whatever it may be. Some of the secondary waste stream products will be available to win, while some will be donated to local and international charities. The ones given as prizes will be awarded based on either a random drawing of student entrants, or a competition in which a designated fact about the material is guessed (how many bottles in the pile? How many papers in the stack? How many light bulbs could be powered by recycling the amount of bottles in this pile? Etc...)
- Pamphlets/info sheets will be available and unique at each installation. These papers – printed on 100% recycled paper of course – will very briefly describe FTW, authoritatively describe the installation material (material’s qualities, RPI’s usage and how it can improve, and possibly global usage), and thank the sponsors (RPI?, SSTF, Ecologic, etc…)
- A path of green footprints will be painted on the ground to connect the installations (green line on campus map). These will be painted on the ground with biodegradable or easily removed paint.
- Each installation will have a table/booth with student volunteers to orchestrate the installation. They will answer questions, mediate with students, pass out the info sheets, and work the competition.
To Do
- Hey Ben what are the specific steps which need to be done, so people can start doing them...
- I'd suggest making a list or having a meeting
- FTW meeting on Wednesday in the Vasudha lounge (So far so good)
- What kind of feedback are you looking for, it seems like you already have your ideas fully formed or for what is not fully formed, easily make a decision one way or the other
Ideas
- Make it child-friendly for at least one day (6-10 years old?), and invite local schools
- If this won't work for Face the Waste, do it for some other event (maybe Global Greening?)
Logistics
- Point of contact: Ben Hunt (Huntb@rpi.edu 510-290-1499)
Volunteers
- Audrey Newcomb
- Heidi Embrechts
- Auralee Morin
- Sam Harrington
- Frank Tobia
- Bev Bendix
- David Jendras
Organizations
- SSTF
- Ecologic
- Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
- Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity
- Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority
