Action Plan

sample_policy_paper.doc

Home >Social Science homework help >Action Plan

POS 110

4 August 2011

Did you know that in 2009, Americans produced 245 million tons of waste? That’s about 2.4 pounds of waste per person per day (EPA, 2009). Waste is damaging to our environment, oceans, and health. For example, plastic bags are non-biodegradable, which means that as they break down into tiny particles they become toxic to the soil. Recycling is one way to reduce the amount of waste we produce. All over the United States, recycling has been implemented, but some areas still do not recycle. In the La Tierra condominium complex, there is no form of recycling. Every couple of days, when I take my trash out, I throw away hundreds of paper advertisements, bottles, and cans. These materials are put into landfills instead of being recycled. Everyone in my complex has the ability to recycle, but there is no convenient place to put these items. In the city of Tempe, there are only six drop off sites to recycle. This makes it even harder for people without a car to recycle. There are several routes that can be taken to change this issue. If the city of Tempe passed an ordinance that would require all apartment and condominium complexes to recycle, it would be an enormous step in reducing the amount of non-recycled waste Tempe produces.

First off, we must identify what exactly is recycling? According to Merriam-Webster, recycle is defined as, “to convert waste into a reusable material.” In order for waste to be converted, our community must participate in the recycling process.

How is waste affecting our environment? One way waste is harmful is that it pollutes our oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. Waste pollution is being dumped bodies of water for many reasons; one is that landfills are being over filled. To cut down the amount of waste going into landfills, we must recycle. If certain bodies of water, such as fresh water sources are polluted, our drinking water supply is decreased (Haluzan, 2010).

What are the benefits of recycling? By recycling, the amount of energy used to make items is reduced because manufacturing brand new items consumes a larger amount of energy than manufacturing items out of recycled materials (Pullen, para. 5). Another benefit of recycling is that the amount of trees cut down can be reduced when paper is recycled. Trees are an important source for oxygen and paper is the number one group of waste Americans produce each year (EPA, 2009).

Many cities are proposing mandatory recycling ordinances. I came across an article titled, “City Attorney Proposes Mandatory Recycling Program,” by Rob Davis. In San Diego, California, city Attorney Mike Aguirre proposed a ordinance that would make recycling mandatory for all apartment complexes and business building. He also proposed to fine all houses that receive free trash service who do not recycle. Aguirre pointed out that nearly 100,000 tons of bottles, aluminum cans, and paper are discarded in San Diego alone. Aguirre was worried that the city's landfill was filling too quickly as an estimated 65 percent of the waste in the fill was recyclable. Although Aguirre's recycling program seems easy at first, it is also an expensive program. The city's recycling program already cost 10 million annually. Aguirre's program would add on an extra 2.5 million annually, with a one time cost of 3 million for buying over 60,000 new recycling bins.

There are various routes that can be taken to address this issue, one route could be to do nothing at all and leave the recycling program as is. I believe that ignoring the issue is unfair to the community, neighboring communities, and everyone across the globe. It is our responsibility as a whole to participate in recycling to better the environment. When we do not enforce recycling, years from now our children will do the same and the trash will continue to pile up. By starting now, we set an example for other communities and up coming generations.

Another route that could be taken to increase recycling would be to mobilize residents to demand recycling from the property owner. This may be effective on a small scale, but would be difficult on a larger scale. Also, even if the residents were able to collectively demand a recycling program, the property owner may refuse. Another problem with this is that it would be difficult to gather all of the residents to push this policy.

A third course that could be taken is to contact the Home Owners Association of each complex to discuss the adoption of recycling. The Home Owners Association, in my complex, can distribute fines for certain things that do not follow their guidelines. For example, when my chairs were stacked up on my patio, the Home Owners Association took pictures and warned me of a fine if the chairs were not below a certain height. If the HOA adapted a new recycling guideline, than residents would be compelled to recycle. The problem with this is that not all HOA's would adapt this new recycling policy. There needs to be more pressure to recycle.

A fourth plan would be to create more recycling drop off sites. With only six in Tempe, it is very inconvenient to recycle. By creating more sites, residents would be more likely to recycle. The problem with this plan is that not everyone has a car and it is doubtful that many, if anyone, would carry their recyclables on the bus or on their bicycles. Also, most people will not have a place to keep their recyclables during the week, especially when living in an apartment or condo complex.

Lastly, the city of Tempe could pass an ordinance that would require all complexes to have recycle bins. By passing an ordinance, all complexes would have to recycle and it would be a lot more convenient for residents to do so. Instead of individual bins like houses have, complexes could have one bin, similar to having one trash bin, that all recyclables would go into. I believe that this would be the best policy because it would change the recycling program for all complexes, not just mine.

One of the biggest arguments against changing the recycling program is the cost. Tempe has many complexes and providing each one with a new receptacle would add more cost to the budget. Some would argue that the cost of recycling actually out-weigh the benefits. An article published in 1996, by New York Times, written by John Tierney , stated that, “Mandatory recycling programs…offer mainly short-term benefits to a few groups -- politicians, public relations consultants, environmental organizations and waste handling corporations -- while diverting money from genuine social and environmental problems. Recycling may be the most wasteful activity in modern America…” Tierney explains that recycling, in New York city is inefficient and far too costly. When the sanitation department goes out of their way to pick up recyclables, it cost the city money to pay the workers. Not only does it add extra cost, it adds pollution to the air from the trucks driving around. Recycling also takes time away from busy people because they have to sort their recyclables each week. Also, when the recycling is picked up, it needs to be sorted at a center.

After this article was published, many environmental organizations were quick to dispute these claims. The Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Defense both issued reports on the benefit of recycling. These reports explained the benefits of recycling, such as the reduction of pollution, the reduction of virgin resources, and the need for land fill space. Michael Shapiro, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Solid Waste, stated, “A well-run curbside recycling program can cost anywhere from $50 to more than $150 per ton…trash collection and disposal programs, on the other hand, cost anywhere from $70 to more than $200 per ton. This demonstrates that, while there’s still room for improvements, recycling can be cost-effective.” After several years, New York has made many improvements to their recycling program, and many cities can model after them. New York made mistakes before they were an experienced city with recycling, such as duplicate trash pick-ups (one for recycling and one fore waste.) Today, recycling programs can be observed through many cities to make it the most efficient and cost-effective as possible.

My recycling policy needs to be first brought to the attention of the city Of Tempe. Tempe city council needs to address the issue in order for the ordinance to be made. The city council has seven members, including the Mayor. After the policy gets to the council members, from there they can decide if the policy is necessary. The council members will also have to work with the city's trash and recycling department to see if recycling can be implemented in the apartment and condominium complexes. The city council holds many meetings every month, by attending these meetings, it will be easier to understand what is on their agenda. It will also be easier to speak directly to the members of the council and the mayor.

In order for my policy of requiring all apartment complexes in Tempe to have recycling service to actually happen, a course of action must take place. The technique that I feel is best suited for this issue is grass-roots mobilizing. I could get started by contacting all my friends and family first, educating them on the issue, and then having them contact others they know. This way, I will have a team that can recruit more people to expand my policy and make it known to the community. After I have a steady group of people, we can inform others in Tempe by talking with pedestrians on the busy streets. With a clipboard and information in hand, we can request citizens to sign a petition. We can also ask citizens to write, make phone calls, and email to the legislatures their concerns about the recycling issue . Making this policy known and recognized is the first step toward change. Educating and informing the public about how serious the issue is also crucial. Information booths can be set up in public places, with permission of course, to further make it known. The last step I feel would make a enormous impact would be to organize a demonstration to expand the publicity of the policy. A demonstration can make it better known to those who make have not been contacted by other means. Signs and posters can be used to deliver the message in a strong, yet simple fashion. Grass-root mobilization can be an effective pathway to action to make a policy known to the community.

In conclusion, recycling is an important role in cleaning up the environment and preserving natural resources. It is crucial that we recycle and that all complexes recycle. The best way to enforce this policy is to pass an ordinance requiring all complexes to have a recycling program. Grass-root mobilization can be a great way to push this policy and make a positive impact on our community.

References

Haluzan, N. (2010, December 13). How does water pollution affect our environment. Retrieved from http://pollutionarticles.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-does-water-pollution-affect-our.html

N/A . (N/D). Do the benefits of recycling outweigh the cost. Retrieved from http://environment.about.com/od/recycling/a/benefit_vs_cost.htm

N/A . (2011). Recycle. Merriam-webster dictionary. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recycl

N/A. United States Environmental Protection Agency, (2009). Municipal solid waste Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/

Pullen, K. (N/D). How does recycling affect the environment. Retrieved from http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/How_Does_Recycling_Affect_the_Environment