Step 1: How can I reduce my level of post-consumer waste?
Step 2: How much post-consumer waste can I eliminate buy reducing the amount of prepackaged items I buy or by recycling and reusing the packaging in a way that is harmless to the planet?
Step 3: I feel that by committing myself to be more globally conscious, I can easily reduce my consumer waste impact on the environment. By using cloth towels rather than the convenient paper towel, and Rubbermaid containers for lunch rather than Ziploc baggies, I am confident that my levels of waste will dramatically decrease. I am seeking to pursue a career in Art Education: a field where yogurt containers and sour cream tubs can be transformed into water dishes for paint brushes, broken glass easily becomes a mosaic, and any junk drawer item can be deemed 'found art.' I have no excuse to be an irresponsible consumer: my time starts now.
Limitations:
I do not buy or use the same products daily or weekly, therefore some weeks I may produce more post-consumer waste than others.
My husband and I share the same trash can, so my data collected was based on both of our post-consumer waste habits. Variations in household size would clearly yield different results.
I live in an apartment in Alaska: if I were living in a house in Indiana like the majority of my family, I would be growing my own vegetables and have a compost bin. Location and housing makes a difference in consumerism.
Alaska is not able to recycle glass due to shipment prices.
My data collected was solely based on household waste, I did not collect and weigh my trash at work, stores, etc.
I did not weigh my trash daily, but rather when the bag was full.
Preconception Revisit:
Looking back at Step 3, I am a bit proud and surprised at my outcome. In an attempt to reduce my post-consumer waste, I did much more than saving paper towels and using Rubbermaid containers. I drastically reduced my post-consumer waste and have several accomplishments under my belt. I learned to not place a limit on my goals. I left my initial question quite broad, which allowed me to discover a few incredible possibilities and direction for further growth.
Self Study Reflection:
As an educator with an art background, I find scientific and mathematical methods somewhat overwhelming, and thus I chose a self study that had a greater focus on the arts. For me, the process had equal or greater significance than the study's results. It it through the process that we often learn something about ourselves. Throughout the study, I constantly looked for ways to challenge myself and improve my results. Here are a few ways I reused typical post-consumer waste while incorporating my field of study.
In an attempt to reuse plastic shopping bags, I learned to crochet. I will confess, I had some previous knowledge of the craft, in so much as I made my mother three dish rags in junior high. After spending some hours in a friend's refresher course, I was able to use twenty-two shopping bags in a crocheted tote: and have received donations by the dozens to continue this project. I will compare this project to another addiction of mine: free samples. With a skein of yarn priced anywhere from $1.38- $10.00, my discovery of shopping bags snipped and knotted into plarn (plastic yarn) was a feeling of winning the lottery. While a plastic afghan does not sound quite as enticing, I am thrilled with the fact that stores give plastic bags away for free--and I can, in turn, transform them into something else that won't find its way into a landfill.
Another item I typically throw away is the all American soup can. With these, I chose to paint the outsides with chalk board paint and use them as planters for herbs. Along the outer edge, I wrote the herb's name in chalk and have them sitting in my window sill. In a similar way, I reused a carton of eggs. The carton and eggshells would usually find themselves in the garbage, but this time I saved all of the waste and planted dill inside of the eggshells. For a woman who doesn't have a green thumb, I am thrilled to write--my dill is sprouting as we speak! While I won't be able to continue using dozens of eggs for this same purpose, I have friends who own chickens and are constantly looking for cartons to house all of their eggs.
There are some other changes that I almost overlooked is my reduction of plastic bottles. Palmer city water is not delicious by any means. So rather than walking around dehydrated, my husband and I often bought water by the gallons. To end this expense and reduce waste, I simply bought a Brita water pitcher which requires a new filter every three months: which means I don't throw a plastic filter away but 4 times a year. I am also using a hydro flask, which keeps water cool for 24 hours, something my plastic water bottle never gave me.
I have also switched household cleaners. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day household cleaners are at least 98% naturally derived. While I use the household cleaner and spray daily, I have yet to throw a bottle away. The thirty-two ounce bottle is highly concentrated and requires a mere 1/4 cup of fluid paired with a gallon of water. In simple terms, this means I won't be throwing the bottle away (or recycling) until I've used 16 gallons of cleaner. I'm sold.
In The Classroom:
As an educator, I found this project could easily be adapted to the classroom setting. This particular project would be an excellent addition to an environmental science course. As for the art room, I can easily envision a self study used for student growth. Palmer High School's IB Art program continually draws from the concept of process v.s. product. For me, this Energy Self Study truly honed in on that idea. For students creating art, it is important to document their artwork: research, planning, process, and final product. Art classes tend to receive the stereotype of an 'easy A.' By the third week of the semester, students realize that art making takes a great deal of research and hard work. Having students work on a continual self study via a sketchbook would do nothing less than prepare them for college. Self reflection is an important skill throughout every subject matter.
In terms of environmental self studies, I believe an art assignment focused on post-consumer/ recyclable goods could easily be adapted to course work while meeting curriculum requirements. A current student has included her wearable newspaper dress in her portfolio, and Anchorage has its annual Junk to Funk fashion show which addresses environmental awareness.
If I were to teach this project, I would organize the assignment in a very similar fashion. First, I would present my own self study to students, as I strongly believe students need tangible examples. I create sample paintings for assignments that I teach, this assignment would be no exception. It is important to show students exactly what you expect from them, and it is completely reasonable that you do exactly what you are asking of them. After presenting, I would have students determine a relevant research question that applies to him/her. I would stress the importance of finding a meaningful topic, as we will be investing a great deal of time on this project. Their initial question should be rather broad, and a second, more detailed question should follow. They would need to present information on finding their data, followed by a written report. Students would finish the project with a Powerpoint presentation in front of the class.
My objectives for this project would be for students to gain experience in:
- Research (writing and citing sources)
- Microsoft Powerpoint
- Public speaking
- Self reflection and higher level thinking
Because the project would involve a great deal of time and steps, I would assess the students after each step, rather than the project as a whole. The presentation of materials, research, and self-reflection would be graded individually.
A Final Thought:
My Energy Self Study could easily be compared to a diet. After weighing my garbage, I was constantly looking for ways to reduce the number on the scale. I've come to look at plastic grocery bags as 'free calories' and the Valley Community for Recycling Solutions "recycling cheat sheet" as a menu for all my post-consumption needs. The list below gives insight to helpful sites I found along the way, and the meaning I found in each.
www.pinterest.com ....this is where I discovered my patterns and ideas for reusing items
http://www.valleyrecycling.org ...this is an excellent resource for anyone living in Wasilla or Palmer. This is our recycling center and the site contains everything you need to know about recycling.
http://center.sustainability.duke.edu/sites/default/files/documents/us_waste.pdf ...this is a more unsettling site, as it gives the national data for waste.
http://www.budgetgreenliving.com ... an excellent resource for families seeking environmentally friendly alternatives.
Presentation:
My Powerpoint presentation can be viewed here: POWERPOINT (This will open a new window)
Reflection of Presentation:
After presenting my Energy Self Study to my family, I quickly discovered my weaknesses. I am naturally apologetic in my speech, and although I was confident in my presentation, I said the word 'okay?' all too often. My mentor teacher brought this to my attention earlier this semester, and while I have made strides to correct this problem, I still occasionally slip. Another area needing improvement is my level of eye contact. I focus my eyes on the slide being projected rather than people in the audience. I am confident in my presentations, so my body language should reflect that. The final criticism I have for myself is my voice. It annoys me to hear my own voice: but I don't see my voice changing any time soon :).
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