Part 1: Where does MA trash go?
The trash from MA is taken to the Redwood Landfill, and recycling is taken to the Marin Sanitary Center. The Redwood Landfill offers a variety of services like construction and demolition debris recycling, yard waste recycling, and municipal solid waste disposal. The landfill is permitted to accept 2,130 tons material every day. At the Redwood landfill, which is a 420 acre property off of the Redwood highway, the trash is separated from anything that can be composted or recycled. The waste is then compacted by heavy equipment throughout the say that forms a tightly packed layer of waste. This layer compacts the waste and makes room for more of it. At the end of the day, soil is layered over the waste to keep it in place, deter animals, repel rainwater, and minimize odor.
Part two:
I am signing up for the pamphlet role because I think that I am good at representing information in a visual format and creating something that is both informative and well designed. My goals are to be succinct with the information on the pamphlet and to create something that makes people want to read about trash! I can push myself to do my best work by starting any illustrations I want to do early and by making sure that I collect the right information to put on the pamphlet. I will be a good teammate by checking in with all of the group members and doing my part in the movie as well as the storyboard. I am a little nervous about making sure that the information in the pamphlet matches the information in the movie and the outline. I think that I will need some help from my group synthesizing and creating a good set of facts and information.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
It is very rare to have an environment like the San Francisco Bay Area, with a population of 7 million people so close to such pristine natural environments. There are many ecosystems in the Bay Area. For example, there is the Pacific Ocean, coastal ecosystems, flatter fields and plains, and the foothills in the Central Valley. These ecosystems contain some unique species, such as the Banana Slug, the Red-tailed hawk, and the gray whale.
Tom Killian's artwork is an amazing showcase of the creativity that can come out of an amazing environment like Mount Tamalpais. The poetry and the wood carvings are very inspiring, particularly because I am an artist. It is also amazing that the Miwoks were also inspired and influenced by Mount Tam so long ago.
The video on Sunol was interesting because it showed the different plant communities that were present. I couldn't believe how many small insects and "galls" there were, and the great influence that they have on the environment. I had no idea that these growths were made by wasps, or that the wasps use the trees for this purpose. I think that Mount Tamalpais provides a great opportunity to observe the small natural elements that are all around us.
I had no idea that Serpentine was our state rock or that it was in jeopardy of being replaced as this title. I think it is interesting how people want to change the rock that represents the state when evidence surfaces that it may be harmful. For example, the article says that it may be carcinogenic or cause harm to plants trying to grow in nearby areas.
Tom Killian's artwork is an amazing showcase of the creativity that can come out of an amazing environment like Mount Tamalpais. The poetry and the wood carvings are very inspiring, particularly because I am an artist. It is also amazing that the Miwoks were also inspired and influenced by Mount Tam so long ago.
The video on Sunol was interesting because it showed the different plant communities that were present. I couldn't believe how many small insects and "galls" there were, and the great influence that they have on the environment. I had no idea that these growths were made by wasps, or that the wasps use the trees for this purpose. I think that Mount Tamalpais provides a great opportunity to observe the small natural elements that are all around us.
I had no idea that Serpentine was our state rock or that it was in jeopardy of being replaced as this title. I think it is interesting how people want to change the rock that represents the state when evidence surfaces that it may be harmful. For example, the article says that it may be carcinogenic or cause harm to plants trying to grow in nearby areas.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Pre-fieldtrip Homework
1. The Redwood Landfill provides a safe and environmentally sound space for waste disposal and has done so for the past 50 years. They take all sorts of waste but recycle about 50% of the materials brought to the site.
2. Some options that replace landfills are waste reduction and increased recycling. It is also possible to use incinerators as an alternative to landfills, where trash is burned rather than compressed and stored. This can cause high levels of pollution to surrounding areas and contributes to green house gases in the atmosphere.
3. Landfills are cheap and convenient, but they have flaws. There are often issues with the toxicity of what is put in them, and the pollution they cause to areas around the landfills. Trash is then sometimes burned, which pollutes the atmosphere.
4. The Marin Recycling Center handles all of the recycling done in Marin. They have a goal of zero waste, and have initiated the first curbside collection program to happen in the United States.
2. Some options that replace landfills are waste reduction and increased recycling. It is also possible to use incinerators as an alternative to landfills, where trash is burned rather than compressed and stored. This can cause high levels of pollution to surrounding areas and contributes to green house gases in the atmosphere.
3. Landfills are cheap and convenient, but they have flaws. There are often issues with the toxicity of what is put in them, and the pollution they cause to areas around the landfills. Trash is then sometimes burned, which pollutes the atmosphere.
4. The Marin Recycling Center handles all of the recycling done in Marin. They have a goal of zero waste, and have initiated the first curbside collection program to happen in the United States.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Homework for 1/31/2012
1. Marin Municipal Water District is a public agency that provides clean and healthy drinking water to 185,000 people in a 147 square mile area in Marin County.
2. MA and MMWD are connected because MMWD provides the water for Marin Academy!
3. I learned that this year has the lowest levels of rain in Marin since 1879. The entire rainy season has been very dry this year, and that has led to little contribution to the lakes that provide our drinking water. Although there is little that has been added, the water supplies are actually still above the usual levels.
Bonus Research Question: The reservoirs are still in good shape! There was a lot of rain last year, which meant that scientists do not fear that there will be a drought.
5. There are 7 reservoirs. 10 towns and cities plus unincorporated Marin receive MMWD water.
2. MA and MMWD are connected because MMWD provides the water for Marin Academy!
3. I learned that this year has the lowest levels of rain in Marin since 1879. The entire rainy season has been very dry this year, and that has led to little contribution to the lakes that provide our drinking water. Although there is little that has been added, the water supplies are actually still above the usual levels.
Bonus Research Question: The reservoirs are still in good shape! There was a lot of rain last year, which meant that scientists do not fear that there will be a drought.
5. There are 7 reservoirs. 10 towns and cities plus unincorporated Marin receive MMWD water.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Homework for 1/30/2012
What I learned from Clean Air Primer:
1. The Federal Clean Air Act is the legislature that protects air quality standards in the U.S.
2. The six air pollutants that cannot be exceeded according to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and lead. They are regulated because they have been proven to be harmful to humans over long periods of exposure.
3. All 50 states are part of the NAAQS, and if they do not meet the regulations, they must come up with a specific plan to control their emissions of dangerous pollutants.
4. The program put in place by the EPA is regulated by state and local agencies rather than the federal government.
1. The Federal Clean Air Act is the legislature that protects air quality standards in the U.S.
2. The six air pollutants that cannot be exceeded according to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and lead. They are regulated because they have been proven to be harmful to humans over long periods of exposure.
3. All 50 states are part of the NAAQS, and if they do not meet the regulations, they must come up with a specific plan to control their emissions of dangerous pollutants.
4. The program put in place by the EPA is regulated by state and local agencies rather than the federal government.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Marin Clean Energy
From reading these articles I learned that Marin Clean Energy is having a very hard time battling with PG&E to get the initiatives passed that are necessary for the organization to make progress. Because PG&E is such a massive company, it is difficult for a more grassroots movement to gain power in this situation. Another concern that Marin Clean Energy is facing is the issue of financial feasibility. Many people do not think that it will be worth the money to fight this battle against PG&E.
I have a few more questions about this issue. I would like to know more about the policy aspect of the issue, and what PG & E is doing to keep Marin Clean Energy from advancing.
I expect that Leslie will fill in a lot of the blanks in terms of the policy that is involved in this issue, and that she will provide a more personal perspective from Marin Clean Energy.
I have a few more questions about this issue. I would like to know more about the policy aspect of the issue, and what PG & E is doing to keep Marin Clean Energy from advancing.
I expect that Leslie will fill in a lot of the blanks in terms of the policy that is involved in this issue, and that she will provide a more personal perspective from Marin Clean Energy.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Homework for 1/10/2012
Answer to question #2 page 144:
The three factors that have led to the rapid increase in human population are the ability that humans acquired to survive in almost any climate or habitat, the emergence of agriculture that meant more people could be fed, and the significant drop of death rates because of improved sanitation and medical care. The world's population increases by about 1.21% every year. The population growth is uneven, however, because the human population in less developed countries growing at an exponential rate, yet the population of more-developed countries has flatlined. In 2010, China, India, the US, Indonesia, and Brazil had the highest populations. It is difficult to project the population years ahead of time because there are so many factors that can be hard to predict. These variables can include fertility rates, the reliability of current population estimate, as well as the reliability of other organizations that conduct censuses and collect information. These projections are done are done by experts called demographers.
Question # 8:
Because the issue of saving our environment is so pressing, it seems as though we should be focusing on both population reduction in less developed countries and trying to contain use of resources in more developed countries. It seems as though the issue has gone past the point where we can choose between dealing with these two major contributors to the environmental issues. Not only do these issues damage our environment, but they also cause high populations that jeopardize qualities of life in developing countries.
The three factors that have led to the rapid increase in human population are the ability that humans acquired to survive in almost any climate or habitat, the emergence of agriculture that meant more people could be fed, and the significant drop of death rates because of improved sanitation and medical care. The world's population increases by about 1.21% every year. The population growth is uneven, however, because the human population in less developed countries growing at an exponential rate, yet the population of more-developed countries has flatlined. In 2010, China, India, the US, Indonesia, and Brazil had the highest populations. It is difficult to project the population years ahead of time because there are so many factors that can be hard to predict. These variables can include fertility rates, the reliability of current population estimate, as well as the reliability of other organizations that conduct censuses and collect information. These projections are done are done by experts called demographers.
Question # 8:
Because the issue of saving our environment is so pressing, it seems as though we should be focusing on both population reduction in less developed countries and trying to contain use of resources in more developed countries. It seems as though the issue has gone past the point where we can choose between dealing with these two major contributors to the environmental issues. Not only do these issues damage our environment, but they also cause high populations that jeopardize qualities of life in developing countries.
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