Plastics are considered to be a significant source of marine debris and land-based litter due to their low recyclability rate. A recent survey indicates that more than 103 billion single-use plastic bottles and bags were consumed across the United States in 2014. The effectiveness of automated recycling systems has been significantly reduced by the single-use plastics hence making this kind of waste one of the vital hazards to the environment. The kind of detrimental effect on the environment that the single-use plastic disposables have makes this topic worth discussing (Jambeck et al. 2015, pp.769). The paper will use DCU University as a case study in addressing the issue of energy and waste management and the various possible methods that this campus can use to reduce the amount of carbon footprint produced from its daily operations. This dissertation paper is going to provide a comprehensive literature review on energy and waste management by discussing how the elimination of single-use plastics and use of eco-friendly alternatives for plastics can help in facilitating waste management and use of improved insulation and eco-machinery as part of energy management. Again, the paper is going to address the kind of data to be collected, methods to be used in collecting it and how it will be analyzed.
Literature Review
Studies show that most of the ocean wildlife such as animals living in the water and the marine birds are being severely affected by the continued proliferation of cheap single-use plastics which have caused poisoning and entanglement. Plastics are considered to one of the most non-biodegradable waste materials, and they cannot be easily recycled. According to Kahhat, Kim, Xu, Allenby, Williams and Zhang (2008), the detrimental effects of the single-use plastics in the environment have not spared the health of the human beings through the sea-food that people take (Kahhat, Kim, Xu, Allenby, Williams and Zhang 2008, pp.958). Leaky waste management systems and uncollected plastic wastes on the land are the primary sources of marine plastics. According to the results that were obtained from a 2014 study by a non-profit making organization known as 5 Gyres which is committed to supporting the elimination of plastic waste, Americans tend to consume more than three million plastic water bottles in every hour. That is the case without putting into consideration the usage of other single-use plastic products such as plastic food packaging, straws, and lids for disposable cups among others. From all these single-use plastics that are used across the country, only about one-third of them are recycled. That means the remaining two-thirds of these plastic products end up in landfills and others discarded in the oceans where they further break down into microscopic pieces which can poison the fish and other marine creatures (Cleary 2009, pp.1261).
However, Nema and Gupta (2009), claim that the recent years have seen numerous strides being made by users of single-use plastics type experiences towards the reduction of the amount of various unnecessary wastes in the environment. For instance, restaurants have started been less aggressive at replacing half-full conditioner, shampoo and soap bottles, most of the airlines have embraced recycling of plastic straws and cups used during flights by the passengers and manufacturers of beverages and food have started transitioning from the use of plastic products for packaging. Nevertheless, more measures and effort need to be made to help in eradicating the pollution of the environment by plastics products (Nema and Gupta 2009 pp.448). That calls for companies, agencies, and institutions such as universities to change their behaviors as consumers of products packed using plastics materials.
Waste Management in DCU University
According to waste management theory, it is important for all people to take upon themselves the duty of controlling their consumption behaviors to ensure that waste resulting from their activities does not end causing harm to both the environment and their health. This theory encourages the optimum use of resources in such a way that the highest possible levels of sustainability are maintained (Pongrácz, Veikko, Olin and Paul 2012, pp.32). The DCU University has committed itself to assist in facilitating waste and energy management within its premises as part of its effort to conserve the environment. There are various strategies and measures that DCU campus can implement in its attempt of promoting its waste management practices on the use of single-use plastics within the institution to help in promoting a better environment as discussed below.
Eliminating Single-Use Plastics
There exist numerous studies on how single-use plastics can be eliminated within private and public institutions such as DCU University among other sectors of the economy as part of the strategies of managing waste and conserving the environment. To succeed in eliminating single-use plastics within the campus and ensuring that they are not dumped into the landfills and ocean, various sustainability measures can help in achieving this goal (Rawlings and Pora 2009, pp.22). For instance, seeking partnership with companies that can recycle the existing plastic bottles within the campus to make ballpoint pens can significantly help the DCU University in promoting its supply chain management practices that are aimed at reducing the amount of carbon footprint produced within this institution.
Furthermore, the university should introduce a "single-stream recycling" program within the campus as one of its efforts towards eliminating the single-use plastics. Jamelske and Kipperberg (2016), suggest that this kind of program will see all the papers, single-use plastics, and other wastes being effectively disposed off hence promoting its waste management practices towards creating a carbon footprint-free environment (Jamelske and Kipperberg 2016, pp.92). The "single stream recycling" strategy can work since it has already been implemented by most of the municipal councils across the United States and has proven to have a significant positive impact on the reduction of carbon emission on atmosphere and unfriendly disposal of waste materials on the landfills and oceans.
Eco-friendly Alternatives for Plastics
There are various alternatives for plastic use that DCU University can consider using as a way of promoting its waste management practices. For instance, the use of sustainable polyesters can help this campus massively reduce the amount of carbon footprint it produces on the environment. The use of polyesters in food packing may help learning institutions such as DCU University meet high sustainability criteria through ensuring that the student cafeteria only uses food packaging materials made up of polyester (Amass, Amass and Tighe 2008, pp.96). The strategy of only associating with those companies that use polyesters in processing the food that is sold to the students within the learning institutions can enable DCU campus to promote its effort towards greener and more environmentally friendly practices and waste management strategies.
Secondly, according to Karmarkar and Bollinger (2015), encouraging the students and the school staff to use reusable shopping bags which are made of hemp, cotton, fiber, canvas, leather or woven plastics can help in reducing the amount of carbon footprint released into the environment. Reusable shopping bags ensure that the users do not have a lot of stock of plastic bags accumulating in their cupboards which in most cases end up being dumped into the landfills hence polluting the environment (Karmarkar and Bollinger 2015, pp.4). Studies show that one of the best ways of avoiding waste which is caused by the habit of using plastic bags is through the use of reusable shopping bags. Thirdly, Lee (2010), claims in his work that, substituting the use of plastic paper towels with the use of organic cotton dish towels can help in eliminating carbon footprint emission in the environment. Unlike paper towels, it is possible to wash organic cotton dish towels repeatedly without having to get new ones hence they help in eliminating avoidable waste from accumulating in the environment (Lee 2010, pp.726).
Fourthly, Cooper, Kendig and Belcher (2011), suggest that encouraging the culture of buying reusable water bottles that are designed according to one's likings amongst the students can help them in avoiding the tendency of frequently buying these disposable plastic bottles that always end up in the landfill (Cooper, Kendig and Belcher 2011, pp.944). Such reusable bottles may help one to refrain from increasing the amount of carbon footprint that he or she releases in the environment. Fifthly, Ren (2013), is of the opinion that replacing the plastic dustbins that are found within the school premises with biodegradable trash bags can act as an excellent alternative to the continued use of plastics (Ren 2013, pp.32). Most of the biodegradable trash bags are entirely compostable hence making them more favorable in promoting sustainability practices within the campus. Lastly, the DCU University should ensure that its procurement department only procures liquid materials such as water, juice and other beverages that are packed using Ohoo which is an inexpensive, biodegradable and more environmentally friendly blob-like container that can efficiently replace plastic bottles (Cooper, Kendig and Belcher 2011, pp.947).
Energy Management
The topic about energy management has over the years become very important given the various effects such as continued climate change, destruction of plants and animals and environmental pollution due to rapid use of fossil energy which emanates from unmanaged energy consumption and overuse. According to Eco-City Theory, it is crucial to integrate the interaction of both the people and their buildings in the cities with the other different living organisms livings in the city (MAJiao-guo 2014, pp.10). Some of the primary features that this theory claims should be part of the eco-cities include effective water resource management, using clean and renewable energy sources, solid urban waste management and green public transport systems. There are various energy management strategies such as the use of eco-machines and improving insulation that can be employed by DCU University in its effort of ensuring effective energy management practices and reduction of carbon footprint.
Eco-Machines
According to Todd (2014), eco-machines can be referred to as a type of equipment that may help in reducing the average amount of carbon footprint produced in the environment. The use of an eco-monitor system with DCU University that can display energy level during different programme selection can help in ensuring that the students and school staff optimize their energy usage (Todd 2014, pp.34). The incorporation of the eco-monitor feature on the various washing machines used on the campus can help the users of these machines chose more eco-friendly cycle for their desired workloads.
Improved Insulation
According to researchers such as Stern (2012), improved insulation of the various home appliances can significantly help in eradicating carbon dioxide emission. Increasing insulation within schools such as the DCU University and homes can help in reducing residential combustion. Moreover, insulation may help the users of energy save substantial amounts of energy that is lost and goes unused. Through such means, they are likely to save vast amounts of money that they waste through using faulty mechanisms that result in wastage of a lot of energy (Stern 2012, pp.1224).
Type of data/Method of Collection
In the study of various ways of improving energy and waste management notably the elimination of the single-use plastics within the DCU University, both quantitative and qualitative data will be used. Moreover, the researcher will hold surveys using the students and staff within the campus as the primary respondents to find out some of their opinions regarding energy and waste management strategies that can be employed within this facility to enable the reduction of carbon footprint resulting from single-use plastics (Perry, Klemeš and Bulatov 2008, pp.1491). The data collected during this survey will then be analyzed to interpret the results effectively. Furthermore, the researcher will use various relevant academic literature that can be found on the internet in combination with the DCU's databases to undertake this research.
How Data Will Be Analyzed
A hypothesis test will be carried out within the university to find out in which year single-use plastic waste was generated more than the other. That will help in discovering the total amount of carbon footprint that the university has emitted in the environment and what can be done to collect this (Jones and Kammen 2011, pp.4091). The researcher will then conduct a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the data that will be collected from the survey and then compare it with information that will have been obtained in the literature review hence efficiently deducing the existing differences and similarities between information obtained from the survey and the one from the literature review. That will help in suggesting the various possible actions and solutions that can be taken. The best way to efficiently analyze this data to discover the most applicable sustainability option is through using the game theory of waste management. The game theory will be used to estimate how single-use plastics can be reduced by various actors such as the landfill site owners near the campus, the students and the staff in different departments (Naini, Aliahmadi and Jafari-Eskandari 2011, pp.597). Furthermore, a game matrix is going to be used during the analysis of waste management within the campus.
References
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