Feasibility analysis and a plan for Plastic Recycling Center

Patil, Rishi

Student Work

Feasibility analysis and a plan for Plastic Recycling Center

Public

The United States currently recycles 10% of its annual plastic garbage. The most common reason for this low recycling rate is a lack of knowledge about what to recycle and how to recycle plastic waste. Plastic recycling at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) follows a similar trend. The goal of this project was to understand and assess the plastic waste handling at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and determine the feasibility of implementing a plastic recycling center on the WPI campus. Different qualitative and quantitative research techniques including analyzing documents, conducting interviews, visiting various locations, collecting data, and engaging with the community were used to learn and find issues with the current plastic recycling. The results of the research indicate that a lack of awareness about recycling, ineffective efforts to raise awareness, and untracked plastic waste sources are responsible for low recycling rates at WPI. After conducting a feasibility analysis, it was determined that opening a plastic recycling center was viable, and a thorough project plan for doing so was created. This plan provides a starting point necessary to bring a notable change in how the WPI community recycles its plastic waste.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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