EH1020 Columbia Southern Unit III Texas Farming Pros & Cons Research Proposal Grading Rubric ( Topic should be about Texas Farming pros and cons) Due: Tues

EH1020 Columbia Southern Unit III Texas Farming Pros & Cons Research Proposal Grading Rubric ( Topic should be about Texas Farming pros and cons)
Due: Tuesday, 06/19/2018 11:59 PM (CST)

Instructions

Follow the directions below for the completion of the Research Proposal assignment for Unit III. If you have questions, please email your professor for assistance.

Purpose: The purpose of the research proposal is to help you to understand your project, to gain direction and feedback on your project, and to establish a blueprint for your project.
Description: In this assignment, you will create a research proposal consisting of three sections:
Section 1: What is the topic? (100-150 words)
Section 2: What is the controversy? Include paragraphs that detail both sides of the controversy. (300-400 words)
Section 3: Your tentative thesis statement (one to two sentences)
Click here to access the research proposal example.

All sources must be documented via APA citations and references. You may also seek out the guidance of the Success Center; the specialists are always there to assist you with your writing and comprehension.

Information about accessing the grading rubric for this assignment is provided below.

Resources

The following resource(s) may help you with this assignment.

Click here to access the Citation Guide for help with citing sources in APA format.
Click here to access the CSU Online Library.
Submit Writing Center Request Running head: RECYCLING CAN BE WORTH IT
Recycling Can Be Worth It, If We Focus Efforts
Student’s Name
Columbia Southern University
1
RECYCLING CAN BE WORTH IT
2
Recycling Can Be Worth It, If We Focus Our Efforts
The Topic
For decades, people have expressed concern about the environment and how human
activity may impact it in a negative way. Conservation efforts have included global concerns
about production waste, water pollution, and endangered species. Because the scope of human
activity has an array of negative effects, many people feel somewhat powerless to affect any kind
of real change. As a result, ecologists and activists have attempted to educate the public about
ways that every individual might make small changes that will begin to alleviate long-term
effects. One of these methods is household recycling. Recently, however, some people have
begun to question the efficacy of recycling as a means for alleviating landfill waste.
The Controversy
An on-going concern is that recycling is not the solution that the U.S. government
thought it would be in the 1980s. While many people do not disagree that recycling is a good
idea, there is little to incentivize people to recycle. Further, some people even question whether
recycling bottles is better for the environment because of the shear amount of energy resources
used in the production of recycled bottles that still cause waste. There is increasing concern
about unsustainable resources and whether or not the human race can afford not to recycle.
Pro Side of the Controversy
While there are imperfections in the recycling process, those in favor of recycling
contend that investing in the process is worth it because of the positive impacts to the
environment. According to the Aluminum Association (as cited in Moss & Scheer, 2015),
aluminum cans are the most recycled material, which is good because recycling these cans saves
aluminum and only uses 8% of the energy to make a new can. Recycling prevents the release of
RECYCLING CAN BE WORTH IT
3
dangerous carbon dioxide. According to Moss and Scheer (2015), who interviewed the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in 2013, recycling and compositing saved nearly 186 million
metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. Szaky (2015) argues that
those against recycling fail to account for the current impacts of failing to recycle. For example,
a new study by the 5 Gyres Institute indicates that there are more than five trillion pieces of
plastic floating on the surface of the world’s oceans, which is roughly the weight of 134,500
average U.S. cars (Elks & Hower, 2014). While the statistics can be staggering, others are
concerned about the economic questions regarding recycling and sustainability.
Con Side of the Controversy
Those who question recycling do so on the basis of effectiveness and convenience.
Hutchinson (2008) contends that while a plastic water bottle might last in a landfill for centuries,
the petroleum reused is barely worth the diesel fuel burned by the large trucks sent to collect the
bottles. While recycling aluminum is worth the energy, recycling glass uses 21% less energy
(Hutchinson, 2008). There are further concerns about looking at recycling as part of a larger
picture. For example, Chris Goodall calculates that “if you wash plastic in water that was heated
by coal-derived electricity, then the net effect of your recycling could be more carbon in the
atmosphere” (as cited in Tierney, 2015). While some cities are attempting to convert to a “zero
trash” policy within the next 15 to 20 years, there is no guarantee that these expensive measures
will have any positive impacts on the environment; in fact, many speculate that the benefits are
few (Tierney, 2015).
RECYCLING CAN BE WORTH IT
4
Tentative Thesis Statement
Recycling efforts should continue because materials that are recycled are often
unsustainable, there should be a more focused effort to recycle materials that have a
reproduction-cost benefit.
References
Elks, J., & Hower, M. (2014, December 18). Reports find over 5 trillion pieces of plastic floating
in the world’s oceans…and 10,000 times more in the deep sea. Retrieved from
http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/waste_not/mike_hower/report_5_tril
lion_pieces_plastic_floating_world%E2%80%99s_oceans
Hutchinson, A. (2008, November 12). Is recycling worth it? PM investigates its economic and
environmental impact. Retrieved from http://www.popularmechanics.com/science
/environment/a3752/4291566/
Moss, D., & Scheer, R. (2015, November 5). Is recycling worth it? Retrieved from
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-recycling-worth-it/
Szaky, T. (2015, October 13). 7 reasons why recycling is not a waste: A response to “The Reign
of Recycling.” Retrieved from http://www.sustainablebrands.com/
news_and_views/waste_not/tom_szaky/7_reasons_why_recycling_not_waste_response_r
eign_recycling
Tierney, J. (2015, October 3). The reign of recycling. The New York Times. Retrieved from

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