Introduction we are HWMR Environmental
HWMR Environmental is a collaborative ground consisting of Mason Fontana, Hassan Koroma, Robert Yeaney, and Wyatt Zeigler. Our project consisted of two viewpoints of pollution that negatively affects our environment. Specifically, we will be discussing E-Waste pollution and Non-point Source Pollution. E-Waste comprises technological devices such as cell phones, computers, microwaves, and more that are disposed of inappropriately in our environment. Non-point source pollution is pollution that does not come from a single source such as a pipe and comes from multiple sources including precipitation, smokestacks, pesticides, motor oil, and many more man-made/human-made products and public disposal.
Research Component
Electronic-Waste (E-Waste)
Electronic Waste also known as E-Waste is the discarding of any device or high tech products such as a smartphone or a computer. These devices are made out of substances that are toxic to the environment, for example most contain lead or flame retardants. Substances such as these being released into the environment are not a good thing especially because in recent years E-Waste rates have increased dramatically. Roughly about 80% of these devices ends up in dumps or landfills which raises it’s own health risks. Only 20 percent of the e-waste generated was documented as collected and properly recycled. China, Ghana, India, and Nigeria are among the countries that have become major destinations for e-waste shipments, both legal and illegal. The high tech devices contain very valuable metals that can be repurposed and reused but this can be a very difficult process causing the recycling rates to be below standards. If we cannot control these rising rates or find a solution to combat the E-Waste issue we could become a global problem. In 2019, PACE and the WEF publish a report predicting that by 2050 some 120 million tonnes (132.3 million tons) of e-waste will be generated annually.
For our topic of E-Waste we conducted lots of research regarding the background, history, statistics, causes, consequences, and solutions to combat this issue. Then with our research we created a PowerPoint which captures all of our research as well as important things having to deal with E-Waste. We then had to present this in front of our peers and professor at Penn State Berks for roughly 12 minutes. The PowerPoint also contains information about our service component Non-Point Source pollution which we used our research and worksheets to help create. (below our PowerPoint is attached)
Also for our topic of E-Waste we created a brochure as sort of a brief overview of what Non-Source Pollution is. We wanted to create it in a way so it wasn’t a lot of information coming at you at once instead we made it so it was to the point and detailed. Our goal with this was that if someone was to pick this up they would learn something from it and be able to retain the knowledge from it since it wasn’t clustered with information. In the brochure we used our research we conducted and divided it into headings such as the causes, consequences, solutions, and sustainable development goals. (attached below)
PowerPoint:
Brochure:
Electronic Waste Brochure-combined
Service Component
Non-Point Source Pollution
Non-Point Source can be identified as land runoff , precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage or hydrologic modification. Some examples of this can be fertilizers, oil, grease, salt from irrigation, acid drainage, or Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet waste, septic systems. How does Non-Source Pollution occur? Well this can happen from a number of different ways or reasons for example some are agriculture, forestry, mining, marine, industry, and urban environment. Agriculture causes can range from pesticides, fertilizers, or the improper clean up of animal waste. Forestry non-source causes can be excessive cutting down of tree’s or improper use of chemicals or equipment. When it comes to mining this occurs from abandoned mine shafts that were used for metal extraction or acid drainage. For Marine this type is the dumping of pollutants into oceans, lakes, or rivers or not properly cleaning boats in the designated areas. In Industry, this happens when the burning of coal exposes chemicals or materials are dumped into places or areas they should not. Lastly Urban Environment, can be the irresponsible disposal of things such as motor oil or antifreeze as well as debris in the streets. Non-Point Source Pollution can play a major role in effecting our environment all over the world, it is crucial that we have things put in place to combat these issues. In the United States we have the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act that help and continue to aid in limiting non-point source pollution. Due to these two types of legislative acts that have been in effect for roughly 50 years America’s air as well as water are cleaner today than they were for the majority of the 20th Century.
For our topic of Non-Point Source Pollution we did about 8 hours community service for the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area’s students in which we created several worksheets regarding our topic. We had conducted research to find information to put inside/create these worksheets that would encapsulate the most important things about Non-Point Source Pollution. These worksheets ranged from crossword puzzle, fill in the blank, word scramble, and true and false. We also created informational flyers to go along with the worksheets as well as to help students with them and so they can learn in a fun interesting way. There was an answer key we created to go along with every worksheet so their teacher knows the answers if they cannot figure it out. (attached below)
Worksheets:
Service Video:
Project’s Goals
Our main goal of this project was to learn more about the environment and most importantly learn what is it specifically that is hurting/causing damage to the environment. We also wanted to then be able to take that and show to the younger generation (the kids we did worksheets for) that we need to preserve and keep the environment clean. We think it’s very vital that the younger generation is aware of how people and things interact with the environment whether that’s good or bad.
Reflection
After doing this project I have to say that we are very happy that we did this. We went into this thinking it was going to be an ordinary project that we get just for any class but it was far from that. This project we completely took a hold of and made it our own and enjoyed doing it that way. We honestly did not know much before but now you could almost consider us experts on these topics! Looking at all of the time and effort we put into this we are without a question glad that we did it and took this class in order to get the chance to be a part of something like this. Most people do not know much about the environment and that was our crucial decision in deciding to make worksheets for kids and making it fun as well as interactive. It all starts with the younger generation and we never understood that until we did this project. We all want to be here for as long as we possibly can be but it has to start with our environment and playing our roles so play yours!