Establishing a Recycling Club at St. Georges University - Assignment Example

Establishing a Recycling Club at St. George’s University: A Proposal Introduction: In ancient days humans coexisted with nature. However, industrialization and development changed the situation drastically. At present almost all human actions generate waste in various forms and in huge quantities causing damage to the environment. As human activities increase the amount of solid waste generated also increases proportionally. It has been estimated that in the United Kingdom alone 335million tonnes of waste was generated in the year 2004 (Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (defra), 2006). Almost all countries face severe difficulties in disposing and managing the waste. The waste is either unceremoniously dumped in landfills or incinerated (Pace Butler Corporation, 2008). However, these practices are not sustainable waste management practices. Burning the waste releases harmful gases and landfills with biodegradable materials release methane into the atmosphere. This adds to the already existing serious problem of global warming. One of the more environment friendly options is recycling the waste. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recycling can be defined as “the separation and collection of materials that otherwise would be considered waste, the processing and remanufacturing of these items into new products and the use of the recycled products” (Pace Butler Corporation, 2008). Recycling has many significant benefits. One of the major advantages is that it reduces the volume of waste and converts what has been thrown out into very useful products thus reducing the strain on waste disposal. Also recycling reduces our energy requirements drastically because recycling uses lesser energy than producing new products from resources. Recycling old things would reduce the usage of the limited natural resources thus conserving them for our future generations (Pace Butler Corporation, 2008). Also there would drastic reductions in the costs for waste disposal. The strain on lands for landfills is also decreased due to this practice. The green house effect and subsequently global warming concerns are also not enhanced due to lack of harmful gas emissions from landfilling and burning. It has been estimated that in UK only 27% of the waste is recycled. However, in neighboring European countries more than 50% of the waste generated is recycled. This shows that the country has to devise new innovative ways to improve the recycling percentage. Setting up recycling clubs in schools and colleges is one such option. The Need: In almost all communities across the country there has been increased awareness about the benefits of recycling. This includes the student communities too. The power of the students can never be discounted and their collective movements have brought about drastic changes in the society in the past. Students have already played a significant part in the environmental movement in the 1970’s (Sierra Student Coalition, 2008). So setting up a recycling club at the St. George’s University would have positive effects as huge amounts of waste is generated on the campus by the students and people living on the campus. According to the available statistics, there are nearly 3,000 students and 500 faculty members that attend the university and waste is generated from the dormitories of the students and by the various departments and faculties that use the facilities available in the campus (St. George’s University, 2008). The amount of waste that is generated on the campus is to the order of 12,000 lbs everyday and this means that a lot of money is spent in disposing of the trash (National Solid Waste Management Authority, 2001). It is imperative that a recycling club should be established on the campus after taking into consideration the volume of waste being generated. The recycling club would solve the environmental hazards of leaving trash scattered around in the campus. Also such as facility would stop the unhealthy practice of burning the trash and causing harm to the health of the people who inhabit the campus due to the harmful gases that are released during the incineration. The trash generated in the university campus being bio-degradable makes recycling easier. The university can also look forward in satisfying some of their energy needs from the recycling of the waste within the campus. Thus there is an immediate need for a recycling club in the University campus (St. George’s University, 2008). This paper is a proposal to setup a recycling club at the University campus. The paper details the uniqueness of project, the methods that would be used to manage the project, the description of the project and the feasibility of the same. The factors that would make the project a successful one are also discussed in the paper. Establishment of Uniqueness The recycling club would be a unique facility within the campus and would exist along with the other facilities that have already been provided by the University. Energy which is generated from the recycling club by recycling the waste can be used to power the other facilities existing in the campus. The energy can also be used to light up the offices and the classrooms. Further, the recycling of the waste would save the university thousands of dollars that are normally spent in purchasing paper and other materials which is now salvaged from the waste. The recycling club can also be used to ensure that the campus is eco-friendly and is compliant with the latest environmental standards that are prevalent around the world. Management The recycling club would be managed by the students and the faculty. For starters, the students and the staff can get together and form committees to formulate a proposal which can then be submitted to the Dean of the university. The plan of the establishing a recycling club can then be proceeded with after procuring necessary approvals from the Dean. A suitable location within the campus should be allocated for the recycling club. The other facilities and the location should be identified along with the necessary equipment needed for smooth functioning of the club. Feasibility The recycling club is a necessity on the campus for disposing of the waste and generating energy and thus the proposal is feasible from the economical point of view as well as the technicalities of the same can be worked out by the concerned authorities (Williams, 2005). The plan for the recycling club would be on the lines of the existing ones that are in operation in other universities. Description The students can be trained in the use of appropriate bins for disposal of the waste and the same can be used to inculcate a spirit of recycling of the waste found in the university premises. Thus, the proposal for the recycling club can be used to foster a spirit of co-operation and harmony with the environment and making proper use of the ecology and environs. Apart from the usage of the bins and the disposal of the waste using the latest technology, the students and faculty can also be made to invest in the success of the venture by educating themselves about the benefits of sustainable living and green communities. Future Success The future success of the proposal hinges on the fact that a recycling club meets the expectations of the people running the club and that the success of the recycling club depends on the commitment shown by the people involved in the venture. As pointed out above, the success of the recycling club would ensure that thousands of dollars are saved annually in the course of the running of the enterprise and the university would also benefit from having an eco-friendly environment for the students and faculty. Conclusion: In the present situation when there is a lot of concern over the environment recycling waste has assumed mammoth proportions in all sections of life. Since it is apparent that there exists an urgent need for a recycling club to be made operational in the St. George’s University a proposal has been formulated for the same. The recycling club would benefit the students and faculty alike. It is hoped that the Dean would approve this proposal after giving due consideration to it and ensure that a recycling club is established in the University campus at the earliest. References: Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (2006) Estimated total annual waste arisings, by sector. Retrieved Mar 25, 2009, from http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/waste/kf/wrkf02.htm. National Solid Waste Management (2009). Website of National Solid Waste Management Authority. Retrieved Mar 24, 2009, from http://www.nswma.gov.jm Pace Butler Corporation (2008) What is Recycling-7 Benefits of Recycling. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from http://www.pacebutler.com/blog/recycling-facts/ St. George’s University. (2008) Record of Enrolment for SGU. Retrieved March 5, 2009, from http://www.sgu.edu/website/sguwebsite.nsf/news-events/news-archives05-RecordEnrollmentSGU.html Sierra Student Coalition (2008) The Campus Climate Challenge. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from http://www.ssc.org/pdf/SSC_High_School_Guide_v2.0.pdf- Williams, T (2005). Waste Treatment and Disposal. New York: Allen Lane. Read More