Environmental Impact
Junior Project by Macii Bastable
Project Overview
When beginning this project, I planned to learn about the biggest contributors to the pollution of our environment. I also wanted to find and share some of the best ways that we as individuals and as a community can work to make a positive impact on the future of our environment.
As I researched, I found the problem was much bigger and more complex than I had ever been aware of.
What I Learned: Statistics
25.9% of all municipal waste generated in the U.S. is paper.
22% of waste in landfills is food, less than 3% of U.S. total food waste is recycled.
Sanitary pads take up to 800 years to decompose, and plastic bags can take up to 1000 years.
The average American uses 88 gallons of water every day.
52% of Americans don’t have access to recycling.
What I learned : Make the Switch
A few simple ways to reduce your impact :
What I learned: Greenhouse Gases
The “Greenhouse Effect” occurs when certain gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap infrared radiation, raising the overall temperature of the planet.
Human activities are the main cause of the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere over the last 50 years.
Effects Include:
Global temperatures rising
Extreme weather : cold / heat, hurricanes, lightning, heat waves, blizzards, rainstorms, ice melting, sea levels
Plant life / animal and migration patterns
Food and agriculture security, political instability
Greenhouse Gases: Examples
Water Vapor (H2O)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Methane is commonly produced through man-made agriculture practices including the handling of cattle, livestock manure, and fracking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Carbon Dioxide production largely results from natural processes like respiration and decomposition. Human sources come from deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels.
What now/else? - Implementation
Start recycling and composting - There are multiple compost sites in Minnesota
Be conscious of your water and energy waste - schedule an evaluation of your home
Get involved - write your senator or campaign