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Journal Entry For
Notes from Observing
Please spend some time observing peoples’ behaviors relating to disposing of their food, containers, wrappers, utensils, and other waste at specific campus location where food is served and/or eaten.
Then share your initial observations in a few paragraphs below…
I observed the trash cans outside of Coupa at Y2E2. Coupa is interesting because most of its packaging, including its plastic cups, is labeled as compostable, and it also sells recyclable products such as Yerba Matte cans. Also, there are four bins, two big compost holes, a tiny recycling hole, and a tiny compost hole.
Throughout the thirty minutes I stood by the bins, I noted the following interactions:
- Three people indifferently threw all their trash (including paper plates, plastic cups, and plastic utensils) into the compost bin without looking at the labeling.
- One person correctly split their trash between the compost and landfill bins in what seemed like fluid, almost practiced motion.
- One person stood in front of the bins for about thirty seconds, debating where each piece of trash should go. He put all of the plastics in the landfill, the paper late in the compost, and his paper receipt in the recycling bin.
- After noticing that I was observing the trashcans, my friend expressed her consistent confusion over labeling the bins. She mentioned how she usually defaults to throwing everything in the landfill because she does not want to contaminate the compost and recycling bins.