song: feels like summer by childish gambino

alternate song: earth song by michael jackson

dedicated to: missmabelp for being a new follower! <3

special dedication to: majo11carreno because you added my 1st prose book to your reading list "Yeah being crazy doesn't help" and it cracked me up. 

note: this was my final research project feature story submission i wrote for my media writing course. i received a 100% on it :)

disclaimer: some names changed for privacy.

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     Listen— the world is ending, the sky is falling, and all hope is lost.

     Back in 2012, many people believed this to be true. In 2021, the world is still surviving amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic and its mutations, but the harsh reality is that the world will inevitably end. So, the question is not when will life cease, but what will Earth's inhabitants do to make it a better place to live before it does?

     One of the key ways to make sure living on Earth is a more sustainable and pleasant experience is to recycle.

     "Recycling helps to create cleaner land, air, and water, and better health," according to a 2021 infographic created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

     In grade school, many people learned these recycling advantages. Unfortunately, there is not often reinforcement of the knowledge, hence why the main recycling benefits are defined socially as pollution reduction and wildlife salvation. Though not incorrect, recycling has many more benefits.

     "In some ways, recycling can be profitable," said Louisiana State University Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor, James Dorman. "If glass/cans are returned to recycling centers. But this requires effort.

     "[Additionally], we currently pump incredible amounts of oil out of the ground to drive the plastics industry. If even a small portion of the discarded plastics were recycled/reused we could limit the CO2 footprint of the chemical industries."

     Recycling can create lower energy costs and drive up profit, but it also has more artful uses. For example, the recycling of rubber from tires to create slides at playgrounds. Likewise, through a similar and more creative process called upcycling, or the reusing of waste materials, plastics and cardboard can become sturdy furniture and organizers.

     The ability to upcycle and recycle can be especially beneficial to businesses, as reusing materials can create more cost-effective products. Additionally, the process of recycling can increase job opportunities and raise wages. In 2012, "681,000 jobs, $37.8 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in tax revenues—1.17 jobs for every 1,000 tons of materials recycled" were possible due to recycling, according to a 2020 report on epa.gov.

     One way to continuethis economic trend could be through a proposed innovation by LSU ChemicalEngineering Professors Dorman and Kerry Dooley and their team of researchers. They, along with LSU Biological & Agricultural Engineering Associate Professor Dorin Boldor, found that "virgin plastic uses more than 80 MJ (megajoules)/kg, while recycled plastic uses just around 10 MJ/kg," according to Libby Haydel, Communications Specialist, in a 2020 article on lsu.edu.

     Given that the media credits different forms of plastic as the leading causes of environmental issues, these findings make sense. Plastic pollution often occurs due to a lack of recycling and biodegradable material.

     "Mass production of plastics, which began just six decades ago, has accelerated so rapidly that it has created 8.3 billion metric tons—most of it in disposable products that end up as trash," according to Laura Parker and the National Geographic Society in a 2020 article on nationalgeographic.org.

     Using the proposed recycled plastic could lead to more efficient upcycling and recycling. There could also be less natural resource waste and energy usage. In other words, the innovation could be helpful for the environment and provide better economic wellness for individuals and businesses.

     "Upcycling can be used to create derivative molecules that can be used for other applications like diesel fuels and lower our electric and fuel bills," said Dorman.

     Given these benefits, it is clear that recycling can be advantageous for everyone, so why is it still such a prevalent issue? Perhaps some areas do not have the resources for recycling. Maybe some people do not care about recycling or are on the go so much that they do not think about it.

     "I think that the issue of the recycling gap should be brought up to local and/or state government officials," said Cheese State University screenwriting and animation major Sharkbait Ooh Ha Ha. "They should be able to provide recycling resources to communities that do not have them. If that is not successful, then addressing it on a national level may be necessary."

     There also might be a lack of knowledge of proper recycling practices, meaning they do not know what can be recycled and what cannot. For example, some hard plastics are not recyclable, and cardboard, though often recycled with plastics and cans, could be composted instead. Maybe a lack of education about recycling is also a factor. Regardless of the exact causes, there needs to be a push for more efficient and meaningful recycling.

     "A lot of effort is required for recycling to be done correctly," said Dorman. The current train of thought in the U.S. is any recycling is better than no recycling. Realistically, we need to wash all plastics/glass/metals and don't recycle papers with food waste. There needs to be a concentrated effort to push recycling and possibly add monetary rewards to encourage people to recycle."

     So how do people aid in the recycling process, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?

     "We could start at home for sure, but we could buy less," said Lowes Sales Associate Jewely Poet. "I know sometimes buying in bulk is sometimes good, but not always. And at Lowes, we go through a lot of packaging so getting businesses to use less is also a start. Being more mindful, conscious, and creative."

     On the collegiate level, student leaders and clubs, especially student government officials, could create different digital and traditional media campaigns to creatively inform people about the benefits of recycling and better ways to recycle in their communities.

     "A student-led effort to increase recycling on campus and educate the local communities on proper practices would be a great first step," said Dorman. "Composting can help supplement the university by limiting the amount of mulch purchased and lower student fees."

     So, there is still hope for the world. There are innovative thinkers, but more people need to care and be more efficient with their recycling.

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basically, REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE YA HEATHENS! RECREATE! UPCYCLE!

anywhozies, quotesssss!!!

❝ the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. ❞ - robert swan

❝ there is no such thing as 'away.' when we throw anything away it must go somewhere. ❞ - annie leonard

❝ the most patriotic thing you can do is to take care of the environment and try to live sustainably. ❞ - robert f. kennedy jr

❝ we live in a disposable society. it's easier to throw things out than to fix them. we even give it a name - we call it recycling. ❞ - neil labute

❝ when we destroy something created by man, we call it vandalism. when we destroy something created by nature, we call it progress. ❞ - ed begley jr

❝ if it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, re-designed or removed from production. ❞ - pete seeger

❝ listen up, you couch potatoes: each recycled beer can saves enough electricity to run a television for three hours. ❞ - denis hayes

these quotes either cracked me up or hit me in my thinking feels. anyway, i love you guys <3

a/n

idea:

⋆ written on april 26, 2021/posted on may 3, 2021.

⋆ y'all when i tell you i finished writing and proofreading/editing my project and turned it in at 11:56pm when it was due at 11:59pm.. LMAOO! it's the fact that my friends also decided i was riding to a hotel to get something and then two of them were gonna stay and hang w/ me and it was a hot mess and i was heavily distracted and hadn't really started the paper until after 6pm or smthn.. bruh. it was nuts. but aye, 100%!!!

⋆ professor's comment: "This is excellent. Well written and researched. It is easy to read and was wonderful to grade. Havea great summer and a wonderful life!" << she's the best. i have to keep in contact w/ her and make sure to randomly catch up :)

⋆ i actually did get one point off on the paper but earned it back (i have legit NO IDEA HOW) because i had messed up here: "One way to continue this economic trend could be through a proposed innovation by LSU Chemical Engineering Professors Dorman and Kerry Dooley and their team of researchers." 

     ⋆⋆ i wrote "Professors James Dorman and Kerry Dooley" in the original paper when i should've put "Professors Dorman and Kerry Dooley" since i already introduced James Dorman. because it wasn't my first time referencing him, only the last name was needed. 

preguntas:

⋆ how'd/how is your semester going? if you're not in school, how's work or life? 

⋆ is there a topic you'd like me to think over in depth and talk about? let me know in the comments! i'm always down for research and educating myself.

⋆ how're you feeling? i hope well! if not, i hope you do soon. as i used to say in middle school, "stay true and be you." <3

announcements:

⋆ check out the "The Echo Awards - Poetry Contest" story by echoawards for a chance to win the may poetry contest! (link in the comments)

⋆ check out the "Wraphic 2021 [OPEN]" story by GraphicSilly for a chance to collaborate w/ a writer/designer through the six week writing/graphic competition! (link in the comments)

⋆ check out the "Rose Awards 2021 (Open)" story by SBCreations33 for a chance to win awards for your stories! (link in the comments)

⋆ check out "The Nameless MiniAwards" story by TayRuDumboises  for a chance to win some cool prizes! (link in the comments)