Custom «Consumption and Waste» Essay Paper

Activity 1

Examples of the use of disposable containers or packaging used in my household

Examples of the use of disposable containers or packaging used in a restaurant

Question 2

There is a need for people to be more responsible regarding the handling of disposable containers and packaging. It has been observed that most of the disposable containers and packaging end up in trash instead of being utilized. The two best uses of the rejected packaging stuff is to either reuse it for one’s own purpose or to give it for recycling so that it can be used for someone else’s purpose. There should be a collecting method for disposable containers and packaging to be collected and be recycled at an industrial plant. This would not only help support a cleaner Earth by lessening the load of garbage but will also lessen the load of scratch building of disposable containers and packaging.  The proper end of disposable containers and packaging is not in the trash can but it needs to be collected to be recycled. If responsibility of each individual is spread through campaigns and activities, more and more people will get awareness on how to make the environment a better one.

A good use of disposable containers and packaging is to reuse them for our own purposes. Most of the tubs and containers of things like yogurt, ice creams and syrups can be reused as storage containers. The uses are not limited to storage purposes. The tubs can be further converted into fancy plant pots or into animal feeding containers. The smaller containers can find their use in many areas. Peanut butter and frosting containers are great for loading supplies of arts and crafts like safety pins, ribbons and glitter. Tough disposable containers can be used in the garage for organizing and storing household items like screws and nails. Bottles of syrups can be reused to keep homemade syrups. Containers can also be used by children to be made into piggy banks or be painted on (Bliss Tree, 2009). 

Question 3

What is your ecological footprint?

Ans: 40.2

How many planets would it take for everyone to live like you?

Ans: 3.8

What factor of your behavior has the most negative effect on environmental impact?

Ans: Shelter (27%)

What factors seemed to have the most positive / least negative effect on your environmental impact?

Ans: Mobility and Goods

What changes COULD you make in your lifestyle to lessen your impact?

Ans: The following are the changes I COULD make in my lifestyle to lessen my impact:

• Introduce vegetarian meals at home.
• Buying fresh and unpackaged fresh foods.
• Being energy-efficient. Turn off electronics and appliances when not in use.

What changes would you like to make, but cannot? What are the constraints (too expensive, people you live with, time, etc.)

Ans: The following are the changes I would like to make, but cannot:

• Eliminate or decrease newspaper subscription. It is not possible due to newspaper’s important role in the house.
• Carpool to get to work. Fluctuating work timings cannot make it happen.

What are some potential measurement issues within the calculations of the game?

Ans: The following are some potential measurement issues within the calculations of the game:

• The game calculates services of government, military, legal services etc in the Footprint for Services. These factors are not under our personal control and cannot be modified by us.
• Every house in the world does not have proximity to a farm or access to fresh farm foods.
• Everybody cannot just switch to a vegetarian diet plan because of their certain body needs and because of their routine diet plan. 

Ecological Footprint of Australia

One of the biggest per capita Ecological Footprints in the world is held by Australia. The Ecological Footprint of Australia in 2008 was around 8 global hectares per person. This Footprint is almost three times the average of the entire world (WWF, 2012). The figure is far beyond the planet’s regeneration level. The emissions of greenhouse gases count for most of the footprint of Australia. Every year, 14 tons of greenhouse gases are emitted by an average household in Australia (AGC, 2012). It would take approximately three planets like Earth to support the lifestyle of that Australia consumes. The lifestyle is surely exceeding the ability of the Earth to regenerate the resources.