As environmental problems arise and the clear effects it has had on humanity are reflected, we still manage to somehow ignore the cause. You can have Michael Jordan promote air quality while the production of the bottled water he used in the commercial produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. I believe a key aspect in order to promote urban sustainability is to understand it. It is then our duty to efficiently educate our peers.
As a regular commuter, I take advantage of the city’s transportation through CTA if not, I occasionally ride my bike to my destinations. I find this an easy task given it is affordable and of course resourceful. Something I am also grateful for is my contribution to my community’s recent engagement in “urban revitalization” through our variety of vegetable gardens.
During my first day this semester, I noticed categorized disposal bins around the UIC campus. However, I more than often do not give much thought when throwing away trash. This is much due to a sudden rush to get somewhere or in most cases plain ignorance. Another unsustainable habit I have yet to fix is my heavy water consumption. How is that unsustainable you may ask? I have a filter at home and use it regularly, but when I am not at home I find myself constantly purchasing water bottles, a major impact on someone else’s community. The average American used 167 disposable water bottles, but only recycled 38. In reality, even if you recycle the U.S’s recycling rate for plastic is only 23%, that equals to about 38 billion water bottles. Imagine that, a landfill of water bottles just stacking up in a beach, or someone’s backyard. Change starts with us, our city.
For more information:
Principles of Urban Sustainability 
Your analysis of plastic waste is quite shocking, and I think youre awareness of it is very important as a consumer. in fact there was a movie recently produced called “Plastic Paradise”, that shows that incredible accumulation of plastic on islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean where currents meet. A lot of the plastic shown comes from as far back as the 1950s, and with us using even more plastic today its really a huge issue, including BPA (basicly an artificial hormone used to harden plastic) contanimation in oceans and marine life (also mentioned in the movie) that can work its way up the food chain.
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This is one of my favorite posts, your statistic about Jordan’s CO2 emissions great examples of how corporations have a huge responsibility to be eco-friendly. On your point about plastic waste in the ocean, a teenager age 19 I believe invented a device that would move throughout the pacific cleaning up paste waste without harming the Eco system. It’s something very interesting you should check out.
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This is one of my favorite posts, your statistic about the company Jordan’s carbon emissions is a great example of how corporations of that size have a big responsibility to be eco-friendly due to how much harm they can do. On your point about the plastic waste in the pacific ocean, there was a teenager around the age of 19 I believe who invented a device that would solve that problem. The device would patrol the waters of the pacific collecting plastic and it won’t harm the ecosystme. It is definitely worth checking out.
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I have noticed the same recycle/garbage cans in many places. Although I understand the idea to teach people what is and is not recyclable I find the specific sizes of the lids prevent people from recycling more often. If someone has a pizza box how are they supposed to fit it in a tiny circle made for soda cans?
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