https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x Shannon College, BAT632I en-us 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC 2025-10-15 19:37:53 UTC hello@padlet.com collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850557 Dallas is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, with over 2.63 million inhabitants throughout the city and suburbs (1). The expanding population has transformed Dallas from rural farmland in the 1960s to the expansive metropolitan community it is today (2). As a leader in technology, finance, and medicine, Dallas is projected to continued its pattern of extreme growth for the foreseeable future. What do you love about living in Dallas?]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850557 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850559 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed rivers that run through Dallas as impaired or unassessed (9), meaning that they are suffering from pollutants resulting from increased human populations. Marine debris from the city of Dallas isn't just unsightly, but can cause a huge issue for environments across the globe. Watch this short video to learn more about the impact of marine debris.]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850559 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850560 While there are many economic benefits to urbanization, this type of rapid development can have profound impacts on the local environment. In 2018, 37.84 million tons of trash were taken to Texas landfills, with the average Texan creating about 7.22lbs of trash each day (3). Larger populations create a larger amount of waste, and left unchecked this can cause irreparable damage.]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850560 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850561 Research has shown that the largest accumulations of marine pollution are located in areas closest to or affiliated with urban populations, contributing to roughly 80% of the plastic debris (7,8). Dallas’s major waterways consist of man-made lakes and their affiliated creeks, most of which feed into the Trinity River and then to the Gulf of Mexico. Litter runs directly into our storm drains without any type of filter before sending excessive waste directly into these ecosystems. What impact do you think this has on our ecosystem? How does it affect native wildlife?]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850561 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850562 Everyone has a different excuse, but a lot of it comes down to laziness or carelessness. If there isn't a convenient receptacle, most waste gets tossed aside immediately (4,5). Some people push the responsibility off on others, and assume someone else will clean up after them (4,5). Others are unaware of or unconcerned about the environmental impacts of littering (4,5). No matter the reason, litter is fast becoming an unavoidable issue. ]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850562 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850564 -1 in 4 Texans reported having littered in the past year (6)
-Over 1.1 BILLION pieces of litter are on tossed on Texas highways every year (6)
-Litter clean-up costs the Texas Government (and local taxpayers) over $46 million annually (6)
-Have you seen someone litter recently? What were they disposing? Why do you think they chose to litter?]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850564 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850567 1. United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography.html
2. Vicars-Groening, J. & Williams, H.F.L. (2007). Impact of urbanization on storm response of White Rock Creek, Dallas, TX. Environmental Geology, 51(7), 1263-1269.
3. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. (2019). Municipal Solid Waste in Texas: A Year in Review. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/as/187-19.pdf
4. Conserve Energy Future. (2020). What is littering? https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-problems-solutions-littering.php
5. Keep Tennessee Beautiful. (2020). Who litters and why people litter? http://www.keeptnbeautiful.org/litter-prevention/who-litters-and-why-people-litter/
6. Texas Department of Transportation. (2020). Don’t Mess With Texas. http://dontmesswithtexas.org/
7. Barnes, D.K.A. & Milner, P. (2005). Drifting plastic and its consequences for sessile organism dispersal in the Atlantic Ocean. Marine Biology, 146(4), 815-825. doi: 10.1007/s—227-004-1474-
8. Derraik, J. G. (2002). The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44(9), 842–852. doi: 10.1016/s0025-326x(02)00220-5
9. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/
10. Morawksi, C. (2009). Understanding economic and environmental impacts of single-stream collection systems. Container Recycling Institute. http://www.container-recycling.org/assets/pdfs/reports/2009-SingleStream.pdf
11. Marshall, C., & Bandhauer, K. (2017). The heavy toll of contamination. Recycling Today, May 2017, 50-51.
12. Fyffe, J. R., Breckel, A. C., Townsend, A. K., & Webber, M. E. (2016). Use of MRF residue as alternative fuel in cement production. Waste Management, 47, 276–284. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2015.05.038

]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850567 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850570 We have the power to make smarter choices every day that can reduce our impact on the environment. First, don't litter! Research shows that people are more likely to litter in a place that already has litter, and conversely less likely to litter in a clean environment (5). Lead by example and make sure you put your waste where it belongs, and not on the side of the road. How can we prevent others from littering?]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850570 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850571 Recycling! Recycling can help reduce the amount of waste we put into our landfills, and provide new life for already existing materials. Compared to the creation of new materials, recycling can have ten to twenty times the environmental benefit (10). Knowing what and how to recycle can be tricky, so follow the link below for a breakdown and some simple guidelines.]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850571 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850573 Reduce the amount of waste getting sent to the landfill by knowing how to best sort it! Click the link below to test your waste management skills.]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850573 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850575 While recycling has many benefits, it can also lure us into a false sense of environmental stewardship. Inappropriate practices, including leaving food residue or contributing items that can't be recycled, leads to contamination at municipal facilities (11). Due to the time and financial cost involved with separating out contaminated items, most recycling facilities will pull entire bundles and send them to the landfill (10). This means that many high value items that could normally be recycled end up missing their chance at a continued life (12). Recycling can be great, but we should do our part to reduce contamination and ensure a continued future for our waste.]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850575 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850579 Use less! Many of our "disposable" items, including single-use plastics like grocery bags and utensils, can easily be replaced with reusable alternatives. Providing our own and saying "no" to single-use items is a great way to reduce our impact on the environment. Recent trends in sustainable lifestyles have led to a huge increase in plastic free options, and we can further reduce our carbon footprint by purchasing them locally.]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850579 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850580 Reverse litter by getting involved with some of your local organizations who are helping revitalize Dallas communities!]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850580 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850581 Join GroundWork Dallas to improve our natural surroundings!]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850581 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850583 Team up with the Dallas Zoo Wild Earth Action team to restore habitats for native wildlife!]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850583 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850584 Take pride in our city by cleaning up our neighborhoods with Operation Beautification!]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850584 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850586 Join For the Love of the Lake to keep White Rock Lake pristine!]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850586 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850587 Have a great solution to your own personal waste contributions? Seen something awesome in your community that's helping keep Dallas clean? Planning your own eco-friendly event? Add a comment on any of the topics above, or post in the comments section below!]]> 2020-04-30 19:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542850587 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542890407 Litter is all around us, but there are multiple "hotspots" where trash seems to accumulate. Found one in your neighborhood or on your commute? Add it to our community map!]]> 2020-04-30 19:22:44 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542890407 collegsc https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542952558 Need help figuring out how to kick your single-use plastic habits? Discover just how easy it is by joining the Dallas Zoo's Plastic Free Ecochallenge! Learn the importance of lifestyle changes, get inspired by new solutions, and be encouraged by others who are creating a better world for animals, just like you! Learn more by clicking the link below! ]]> 2020-04-30 19:57:43 UTC https://padlet.com/collegsc/vd404zgkbyf0lp4x/wish/542952558