Group members- Ianjo Ubina, Parneet Kaur, Ilhan Mahdi, Yuri Sako, Abed Murwanto, Peter Lauren, Kris Cardona
In our group, we were brainstorming general problems in the world and then tried to find a small way to combat that issue in a small way. Pollution came up, and we decided that a way to help with it is to do a clean up in our respective neighborhoods. Picking up litter on the side of the road, or in fields near us.
Pollution caused by trash is a serious problem in many communities. When litter is left on the ground, it harms the environment, makes areas look dirty, and can create health concerns by attracting pests and bacteria. Studies and environmental reports show that litter can also harm animals and damage soil and water.
One of the main causes of this problem is that some people are careless or unaware of the impact of throwing trash on the ground. In some areas, there may also not be enough trash bins, which leads to more litter in public spaces. This problem matters to our group because we want our neighborhoods to be clean and safe. Seeing trash in our community shows how pollution affects the places where we live and why it is important to take care of our environment.
For our group solution, we decided that each of us would clean up our own neighborhoods to help reduce pollution. We chose this approach because it was realistic, accessible, and something we could all take responsibility for. By spreading out across different areas, we can make a bigger impact instead of focusing on just one spot. This solution also helped us understand how small actions from different people can add up to meaningful change in the community.
With the solution we have selected, we plan to reduce pollution and its negative effects on both the community and the environment. We decided to do the cleanups specifically to the areas we live. Since Peter and Abed live in the same area, they did their cleanups together. The other members of the group did their cleanups individually. This method allowed our cleanups to be much more flexible. In addition, we were also able to address pollution in more than just one area. We planned to finish our individual cleanup by March 10th, which means that all of our group members finished their cleanups within the week before that. During our cleanups, we made sure to follow safety precautions by using gloves, avoiding busy roads, and handling sharp objects carefully. Finally, we ensured that the trash we collected was disposed of in a proper trash bin.
One way to reduce pollution is by adding more trash cans in public areas like parks and sidewalks so people have an easier place to throw away trash. Communities could also organize neighborhood cleansup to help keep streets and public spaces clean. Another solution is educating people about litter harms the environment, animals, and water. When people understand the impact, they may be more careful about throwing trash away properly. Recycling programs can also help reduce waste by encouraging people to separate materials like plastic, paper, and aluminum instead of throwing everything away.
Our group talked about what our solution needed to be like before choosing one. First, the solution needed to be realistic and easy for everyone in the group to complete within a short time. Everyone could participate where they live. Another criterion was that the solution should actually help reduce pollution in some way. Even though our project is small, we still wanted it to make a positive difference in our communities. Safety was also important. While picking up trash, we made sure the activity could be done safely. Wearing gloves, staying away from busy roads, and being careful with sharp objects helps a lot. Overall, the solution should be simple, safe, and helpful to the environment.
In conclusion, our group discovered that pollution from trash is a problem in many communities. Trash can affect the environment, animals, and make a community look dirty. To solve this problem, our group decided to pick up trash in the neighborhood. Although our contributions were small, there would be a difference. This project taught us that even small tasks, which we picked up trash and throwing it away, can make a difference in pollution. It also taught us that we can all make a difference in taking care of Earth. When everyone makes a small effort, it can make a difference in our communities.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Trash-Free Waters. Trash Free Waters | US EPA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2024). What is marine debris? https://marinedebris.noaa.gov
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