Service learning is a study approach that combines learning objectives with community service. In the learning process, we’re seeking to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for ourselves. The intention of service learning to provide a progressive learning experience while meeting societal needs. And it brings positive impact on different stakeholders.
For the community, there will be a tighter bond between the university and the community. People in the community may be satisfied with student participation and new energy and perspectives are applied to the community work. In addition, those valuable human resources are devoted in to achieve community goals.
For the faculty, this will be an opportunity for research and publication since there’s a new or closer relationship between faculty and the community. Also, there’s potential networking opportunity with engaged faculties in other organizations or institutions.
For student like me, it would be a great chance to apply what I’ve learnt in the real world. Except meeting and communicating with new people from the community, I can also practicing my skills in understanding, problem analysis, problem-solving and critical thinking.
I’m devoting my time to community service because I think it’s my responsibility to use my knowledge to help others. And the process of applying the knowledge I absorbed from the textbook to the real world is really crucial to me,
Plastics are extremely versatile materials with relatively low density. In this case, these plastics products usually have light weights. It's easy for them to be moulded into different shapes which allows other materials to be integrated in. Furthermore, there're various kinds of plastics like PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP and PS. Some of them are easily recyclable, and others may need more sophisticated handlings in its recycling process. And we can differentiate them by their resin codes.
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is usually used for food and drink packaging since it has strong ability to prevent oxygen from getting in. The mineral water bottle is a typical example of it. And the PET also can help keep the carbon dioxide in carbonated drinks. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is mostly used as the grocery bag, juice container and medicine bottle. It has long virtually unbranched polymer chains which makes it stronger and thicker from PET. It's a safer option for food and drink use because of its stability. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is commonly used in toys, detergent bottles and blister wraps. It's considered as the most hazardous plastic that may release different toxic chemicals in the using process. Therefore, the recycling programs rarely accept PVC.
All the waste materials can be called as trash. Some of the trash can be recycled immediately while others need a long process to be degraded. Those trash with a longer degradation time will go to rural areas or even the ocean. There’re many negative issues related to landfill. For instance, many wastes contain toxic substances that may leach into our soil and groundwater, and become environmental hazards for years. In this process, leachate is formed when water filters through the waste. Another important problem is the greenhouse gas. Organic materials like green waste in landfill will compact down and cover. The removal of oxygen will lead it to break down in an anaerobic process which releases methane in the end.
After watching the movie 'Bag It: Is your Life too Plastic?', one thing surprised me is the person who lives in the middle of Los Angeles saves all his trash for one year in his basement and chooses to step out of the plastic bag cycle as much as he humanly can. The person left me deep impression because I've never thought it possible to stay away from the plastic bag cycle in modern society.
I have heard about garbage patch before but I'm always confused about the origin of those garbages. Now I understand that trash gets loose on the land, blows into a river, and finally goes into the sea. And we really need to take it seriously because ocean is the cornerstone of earth’s life support system. It shapes climate and weather and holds most of life on earth.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
This is a quote appeared in the movie and it means a lot to me. A small change may bring large impact. At least my family and me can choose to live a more sustainable life and make preparation for our future generations.
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