Evaluating and Synthesizing

Ultimately, the most useful articles/websites were those that talked about recycling programs that have existed in other areas. As I started searching, I realized just how much information is out there. I believed I would be able to 

Pleasanton is rewarding residents who are willing to recycle.

Indiana University combined art with recycling. 

Utah may have an increase in sustainable living because of the federal stimulus package.

Recycling programs are expensive to initiate. However, in spite of high up front costs, in the long run there are several benefits to paper recycling. Recycling requires a change of mindset, as those heading up research initiatives must be patient while the wave a recycling takes hold. Paper recycling does not necessarily "save a tree" as trees are planted specifically for paper; paper recycling DOES increase the life of a landfill. In addition to recycling, consumers ought to reuse and reduce their paper use. It's a cliche that I have heard countless times, but it is true! 

REDUCE 

REUSE 

RECYCLE

It was at this point in my process that I realized that I had lost track of the initial goal of my research, to find out how reuse works into the equation. I was so distracted at my personal goal that I lost absolute track of what I was supposed to do. Reuse! It's all about reuse! I quickly changed my search topics, looking for such things as "recycle + reuse" and "recycle vs. resuse"; the latter search brought me to a website about the perks or reuse. I also visiting the EPA website that offers compelling statistics about all three R's. It is definitely worth a look.

As I evaluate all of the information I have been able to find, it seems clear that REUSE is much more useful than RECYCLING. Reusing an item is common sense, does not require further energy output, and increases the life of a land fill more than recycling ever can. Those proponents of recycling seem motivated by money. It also seems as though companies brag about recycling. It's just a buzz word that seems nice. In a sense, Recycle is the glamorous younger sister to the frumpy but productive big sister, Reuse.

UNRELATED BUT WORTH A LOOK: 

My research did lead to the discovery of a favorite website thus far, one that addresses toilet paper and recycling. I also came across a home made entirely of paper. Another, while it dealt with making the choice to PURCHASE recycled paper, was aptly named Going Green @ Your Library. 

Information Seeking

I think that the biggest mistake the cell phone searcher made was relying too much on one place. Consistently, that user used Google as square one. I didn't realize what a big deal that was until I made the same mistakes.  As I started looking for information about paper recycling, I first performed a Google search for Paper Recycling Process! I am no better than cell phone guy!

I moved away from Google and tried other search engines that I knew. I found an informative website that talked me through the step by step of recycling. You can check it out by clicking here. 

I also found a somewhat geeky YouTube video that explains the whole process, if you don't feel like reading:

My next logical step was to find possible harmful effects of paper recycling. I found an article called Rethinking Recycling that is a little dated (1995). You can read the whole article, but I am including the gist of it here:

"Critics say that what seems at first to make a great deal of sense doesn't always stand up to a close examination. For instance, some critics argue that collection costs make recycling a bad bargain for many localities because the costs often exceed the prices that the recyclables bring on the open market. They also charge that operating additional trucks to pick up recyclables increases toxic diesel emissions, offsetting any environmental gains.

Recycling advocates are quick to respond that economics are not the only consideration and that recycling is essential in managing America's solid waste. They say that using recycled instead of virgin materials benefits the environment by cutting back on a wide range of pollutants and preserving biodiversity. And, they add, recycling may make economic sense by delaying or lessening the need for landfills so that land can be put to more productive uses."

Because this seemed a little dated, I decided to pinpoint more timely information, this time using a GoogleScholar search. I am including the link, even though I did not find any results with which I was happy. I went back to my standard Google, this time adding dates as a delimiter. The first site to pop up was one from the American Forest and Paper Association, displaying the 2009 recycling awards. 

It seems, so far, that I can only find recycling information from companies who somehow benefit from recycling. It also seems as though this is not a topic that people are talking about anymore. That, or perhaps I am not information literate!? 

Task Definition

The situation: My city is interested in implementing mandatory curbside recycling. I always attend meetings where the community can give input on a matter. To prepare for this meeting I want to know more about the possible economic and environmental benefits of recycling. I've heard something about how it might be better to re-use things, rather than use things once and recycle. How does re-use fit in?

I have a sister who lives in England, and she has shown me a great example of recycling and reusing. In the UK, everyone participates in curbside recycling of glass, plastics, compost, and metals. I am not sure what would be the best plan of attack in Utah, or in the United States, for that matter. People talk about how expensive it is to recycle, and I have heard students tell me that recycling is a waste of energy because it does not make that much of a difference.

I would like to examine paper recycling, as that is something that my school already participates in. Specifically, I would like to have real information to pass on to students in order to rev up our school wide paper recycling.

I need to understand the process, costs, and impact of paper recycling. I would also like to know where paper from Utah goes in order to be recycled.

Learning to Find/Use Information

I am starting the information literacy aspect of this course and I was first posed with the question "how important is the skill of information literacy?" A simple answer would be one word: very. An expanded answer might include a variation of the following: more important than most of us can even realize.

A little background (taken from the course):

The term "information literacy" was defined in 1989 by the American Library Association's Presidential Commission on Information Literacy as an individual's ability to identify and shape research questions, access information, evaluate it, and manage it. Information literacy is different than "learning how to use the library", which focuses on teaching tools, resources, and strategies for a specific library's resources and for a very specific assignment. Although there is some value in this, today we all encounter information in a very different way. Having a broader and deeper understanding of the information landscape, including libraries, will enable you to navigate that landscape much more easily.

Information literate people are problem solvers; they can be dropped into any foreign situation and often take on a leadership roles because they are able to manage information. They are curious. They are researchers. They are those who make effective teachers and helpful friends.

It important to know that there are various types of information that can be found in different ways, using different tools. It is also important to have good searching skills. As a teacher, I am given the responsibility to help my students become informationally literate, which implies a mandate for me to be the same.

Synthesizing Again

I ultimately discovered that I agree with the researcher's synthesis. She decided to proceed with caution, which seems about right. I already use my phone on speaker quite often, keeping it sitting on the desk while I talk. And why not? Speaker phone is not Bluetooth, but what can it hurt? 

I like the way the research was presented because it is done in a very conversational, comfortable manner. The researcher also offered her opinion while at the same time including links so we could once more revisit her train of thought. Solid.

It seems like a natural time to revisit my own solutions. I ultimately have decided that recycling is not the perfect answer to a community's problems. Reusing is more cost effective, offers more energy savings, and is more of a community building activity.

At the beginning of this process, I started by merely wondering if our school paper recycling program made a difference so I could then bring that idea of difference to a larger community scale. I found some interesting information about paper recycling, such as how and why. Once I re-calibrated and adjusted the focus of my searching to fit the needs of this assignment, I found ready information about reusing. It was actually nice that I had spent such a large amount of time looking at recycling websites, because I was able to quickly see the contrast between the recycle and the reuse sites. The recycling websites are trying too hard and they seem as though they have something to hide; that fact alone lessens the appeal of recycling.

I wondered at first how a community could go about implementing such a program, and I ultimately came across Freecycle, a system that shows a lot of promise. One downside is that it is web based, but that might also be the upside. It seems like a legitimate site designed to process the needs of such a venture.

Using Information I Found

The researcher went to Academic Search Premiere, which was a good call. When I was an undergrad I used databases like a mad woman and I was also so grateful for the quality of information available. She found much more relevant information and was also able to link information together in a sort of research chain. I do think she ultimately resolved the conflicting information that initially existed.

As I tried to make my own research chain, I realized that at first, I was so focused on recycling that I completely neglected to examine reuse; however, once I refocused my efforts it seems like reusing is most certainly the way to go. Recycling takes energy at every level. There are transportation costs from the beginning, as most small communities are not equipped with the needed plants to process products. The recycling process itself uses valuable energy resources. In contrast, reusing is a matter of communication. If a community organizes itself to SHARE things and to advertise that sharing, there is much less waste. It would require effort, but wouldn't it be amazing if a compost bin could be established at the city rose garden? Wouldn't it be phenomenal if the local newspaper advertised FREE sales instead of yard sales? It's a compelling thought, and one that I would like to think would work.

As I thought of this concept, I was reminded of a website I used to visit when I lived in Salt Lake. Freecycle is a website that claims to change the world one gift at a time. It is a forum that is community based which allows users to post things that they would like to give away (i.e. get rid of).  

I do not think that I can support a recycle-only program. I would like instead to get behind a program that allows for organized reuse. I would like a FREEcycle community to be established and advertised in Nephi so that residents can share those things that they no longer want. Sounds cool, right? I applied for a new group and am now just waiting to hear back. :)

Seek More Information

As I began to seek more information, I decided to branch out from the Internet and expand my sources. I went to the Nephi City Library. Using the card catalogue and the brains of my good friends who work their, I searched for any sort of text that related to any of the "R's." One librarian remembers displaying brochures at some point in time about the concept, but we could not find any sort of paper source to support any ideas. (A little ironic, I say!) 

I decided then to expand my search into primary sources, or people who may have had experience with both recycling and reusing. In my high school, we have been experiencing a paper shortage since January. Because of this, teachers have been finding ways to reuse papers BEFORE they are sent to the big green recycling bin outside the building. I talked to a math teacher who sent home grade reports printed on the back of old worksheets (none with student names, mind you!) This act alone saved 170 pieces of paper from being added to the local dump. I have talked to other teachers who photocopy new worksheets on the back of old work; teachers also take old pages and cut them into quarter and half sheets, allowing students to use one side of the page for written response. 

I talked to Diane Park, the school secretary, to see if she has noticed a change in paper usage in the past few months. She said that she has not needed to order any more paper (a relief, because we can't). Ultimately, it seems as though at our own Juab High School it makes more sense to reuse BEFORE recycling...we should try to get as much as possible out of each sheet of paper. It makes me wonder how I can restructure our school recycling program.

Ultimately, I read another website that inspires me to spread the word. It is conversational and friendly, and makes some good common sense.  You can read it here.