Math Project- The Benefits of Recycling

8/7/2019 Math Project- The Benefits of Recycling

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Math Project:

The Benefits of Recycling

Most communies across the country have recycling programs. In

many, newspapers, glass, aluminum cans, and plasc boles are

collected and transported to recycling centers where they can be

processed and used again in some for or another. While recycling

has been supported from the beginning by environmentalists, on-ly in recent years have the true benets of recycling been real-

ized.

Goal: Research recycling to determine who or what benets

from recycling programs. Write a one-page summary of your con-

clusion and present your ndings to your family and or class. Sug-gested me:

6-8 hours over a two week period.

Math Skills to Highlight:

1.Using data as a basis for making decisions about recycling

2.Analyzing and simplifying numbers to choose an appropriate

scale for a graph

3.Reading and creang graphs, tables, and /or charts

4.Using math and wring as a means to communicate ideas


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Math Project:


Special Materials / Equipment:

Reference books and arcles about recycling; markers; felt-pped

pens; poster paper; rulers; compasses; protractors; scissors;

paste; tape. Oponal: Computer and printer to produce spread-

sheets, graphs, and tables.

Development:

Before beginning this project, talk about recycling with your chil-

dren. If your community is like most through out the country, it

has recycling programs and your students will be familiar with

them. Most people assume that recycling is benecial. But who

actually benets and in what ways? At the very least, recycling

programs reduce stress on the environment by cung the de-

mand for natural resources. In addion, recycling programs create

jobs {recycling companies have become thriving businesses}, save

money and spur the development of new technologies.


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Math Project:


The Benefits of RecyclingSituation/ Problem:

Most communities across the county maintain recycling programs in which

newspapers, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles are recycled. Most

people assume recycling is beneficial. But who actually benefits? For example,

does recycling reduce stress on the environment? Does it improve the quality of

life for people? Does it create new jobs, save money, or promote the development

of new technology?

For this project, you will attempt to answer the question: What are the benefits

of recycling? You will write a one-page summary of your conclusion, and then pre-

sent your finding to your family.

Possible strategies:

1. Tasks will include researching, analyzing and organizing information, creatingmaterials such as graphs, posters, and other displays to support your conclu-

sions to your family.

2. After gathering research, analyze your information and draw conclusions.

Student Handou


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Math Project:


The Benefits of RecyclingSpecial Considerations:

During research, look for the benefits recycling offers to people, companies,

and the environment. Support your findings with facts.

Keep an accurate list of your sources by suing a standard bibliographical for-

mat. Specific page numbers where information was found should also be noted

Your English text or a writers stylebook has information on bibliographies.

After you have gathered all your information, analyze it and make conclusions

about the benefits of recycling. Explain your conclusions in a one-page sum-

mary. Your summary should contain three parts an opening in which you pro-

vide your results, a body which offers details supporting your results, and a

closing in which you reemphasize the main point of your summary.

Illustrate your results with graphs, charts, tables, or posters. If you have access to computers, consider using them to create graphs and ta-

bles from speadsheets.

Consider how you will present your findings. Rehearse your presentation so

that you are able to conduct it smoothly. Be ready to answer questions.

Student Handou


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Student HandouSome FUN Facts about Recycling* Each person creates about 4.7 pounds of waste every single day

* In the US 33.4% of solid waste is either recycled or composted, 12.6% is

burned in combustion facilities and 54% makes it's way into landfills

* In 2007 99% of lead acid batteries were recycled, 54% of paper and paper-

board were recycled, 64% of yard trimmings are recycled and nearly 35% of met-als were recycled

* The amount of recycling in 2007 saved the energy equivalent of 10.7 billion

gallons of gasoline and prevented the release of carbon dioxide of approximately

35 million cars

* The number of landfills in the US are decreasing while their size is increasing.

In 1998 there were 8,000 landfills but only 1,754 in 2007

* Each ton of mixed paper that is recycled can save the energy equivalent to

185 gallons of gasoline

* Approximately 8,660 curbside recycling programs exist in the United States

* There are about 3,510 community composting programs in the United States

* Disposal of waste to landfills has decreased from 89% in 1980 to 54% in2007

* Recycling 1 ton of aluminum cans conserves the equivalent of 1,665 gallons

of gasoline

* In 2007 the United States recycled and composted 85 million tons of the 254

million tons of municipal solid waste created

Math Project- The Benefits of Recycling

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