Promote the Green2Go Program and Recycled Paper, and Abandon Styrofoam

To: Instructor’s name From: Student’s name Date: Proposal: Promote the Green2Go Program and Recycled Paper, and Abandon Styrofoam The purpose of this proposal is to ask for clearance and the necessary authority to examine the feasibility of embracing both the Green2Go Program and Recycled Paper at Penn State University while abandoning the use of Styrofoam. Penn State University has embraced recycling, with dining halls and other campus building having all sorts of recycling bins, including garbage cans, paper cans, plastic cans, and compost cans, all aiming to recycle all food and waste collected. Nonetheless, there are no recycling bins for Styrofoams on campus grounds, thus, raising the serious issue of plastic waste that ends up in a landfill. This proposal illuminates the challenges with the current recycling programs, possible solutions, a research plan, a weekly schedule, and the qualifications I possess in regards to addressing this problem. Problem: No Recycling Options for Styrofoams The use of Styrofoam poses severe environmental challenges because it is a non-biodegradable plastic and is also uneconomical to recycle. Penn State University has emphasized the significance of recycling, with campus halls fitted with garbage cans, compost cans, paper cans, and plastic cans to collect and recycle all food and waste collected. Notably, the university has failed to recycle expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly referred to as Styrofoam, since 2015 (Penn State & Expanded Polystyrene Foam). Two critical reasons have made recycling EPS not feasible. First, low oil prices made it cheaper to produce Styrofoam than recycle it, since oil is an essential input in making EPS. Contamination of Styrofoam with food is the other reason why recycling stopped (Penn State & Expanded Polystyrene Foam). Styrofoam is a menace to the environment. Producing EPS increases the carbon footprint, and its single-use is a significant threat to the environment since Styrophone is non-biodegradable (Penn State & Expanded Polystyrene Foam). The university stands to improve environmental sustainability by promoting the Green2Go program, a program that ensures students have a container for the entire semester, for only five dollars (Green2Go). Another solution to the recycling challenge is the adoption of the non-virgin paper that is not only biodegradable but also renewable and can be recycled easily (Penn State & Expanded Polystyrene Foam). Gradually eliminating Styrofoam trays will reduce human chemical contamination, and the degradation of the environment considerably (Clough 11-12). For these reasons, I propose that the university adopt a gradual reduction of Styrofoam trays, and promoting the Green2Go Program and recycled paper for use within the campus grounds. Research Plan My research plan will involve conducting secondary research on the possibility of recycling Styrofoam, introducing the use of recycled paper, and promoting the Green2Go Program. My secondary research will include using the university library for credible research papers, the un...