Student Handout: Project #1 Introduction to Engineering ...



PROJECT #4 RECYCLED DESIGN PROJECT

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Reduce waste; Reuse products over and over again: Recycle used materials creatively

Background Information for Reduce, Reuse, &

Recycle Source:

"Each year, Americans generate millions of tons of trash in the form of wrappings, bottles, boxes, cans, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, phone books, and much, much, more. Durable goods (tires, appliances, furniture) and nondurable goods (paper, certain disposable products, clothing) account for several million tons of the solid waste stream. Container and packaging waste is a significant component of the nation’s waste stream as well. This material includes glass, aluminum, plastics, steel and other metals, and paper and paperboard. Yard trimmings such as grass clippings and tree limbs are also a substantial part of what we throw away. In addition, many relatively small components of the national solid waste stream add up to millions of tons. For example, one percent of the nation’s waste stream can amount to about two million tons of trash each year."

"Individual consumers can help alleviate America's mounting trash problem by making environmentally aware decisions about everyday things like shopping and caring for the lawn. Across the country, many individuals, communities, and businesses have found creative ways to reduce and better manage their trash through a coordinated mix of practices that includes source reduction. Empty cans and jars can be reused to store many items, such as nails or thumbtacks. The baking soda bought to bake a cake also can be used to scrub kitchen counters. The container that began its life as a plastic milk jug can be washed and reused to water plants, create an arts and crafts project, or be transformed. Eventually, the milk jug can be recycled to create a new plastic product. Reusing products is just one way to cut down on what we throw away."

Problem Scenario

Waste management is one of the critical challenges of the twenty-first century. Landfills are growing and taxing our resources while recycling has not lived up to its promise. This project is a recycling challenge. Students are asked to construct a chair capable of supporting an adult weighing 250 pounds. The chair must be constructed of common waste materials. Metal and wood products are unacceptable as part of the design. The students should also design a chair that is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. The final project will be judged on the following criteria:

❑ Does the chair support the required 250-pound weight? Yes or No (20 points)

❑ On a scale of 1to 20 (with 20 being most) how aesthetically pleasing is the chair?

❑ What is the weight of the chair compared to other designs? (15 points for the lightest chair)

❑ Does the written email report detail the design process, the cost, and testing of the chair? Is it well written? Are sketches included (25-point scale)

❑ Is the oral presentation clear and complete? (20-point scale)

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Vocabulary of Recycling

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Biodegradable -describes material that can be broken down naturally by microorganisms into simple, stable compounds.

BTU (British Thermal Unit) - A measurement of the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at or near 39.2 degrees F.

Buy Recycled- Purchasing products and packaging made from post-consumer materials.

Compost- Decayed organic materials which decompose into humus.

Contamination- process by which something is made impure.

Decompose- To break down, change form by the action of living things or microorganisms.

Earth Day- a day set aside (April 22 in the USA) to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, just, sustainable world.

Environment- The natural world around us, including the air, water, land, animal, plants, etc.

Environmentalism-Advocacy of the preservation or improvement of the natural environment; the movement to control pollution.

Landfill- a secure site for the environmentally sound burial of solid waste in which the waste is buried between layers of earth to build up low-lying land.

Litter- is unsightly, unsanitary, unappealing waste products that can be hazardous or degrade the quality of life by corrupting the environment.

Microorganism- Organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Natural Resources- naturally occurring assets such as plants, animals, minerals, water, air, etc.

Organic- derived from living organisms, or having a carbon base; or when referring to agricultural products.

Pre-Consumer- describing materials that are diverted from the waste stream that are generated during manufacturing

Pollution- harmful substances deposited in the air, water or land leading to impurity or unhealthful conditions

Post-Consumer - describing materials that are collected for recycling after having been purchased by a consumer that would have otherwise been incinerated or taken to a landfill.

Recycle-To process in order to regain material for human use

Returnable Container- a beverage container able to be returned for a money deposit.

Waste- garbage or other material that is not used anymore.

Waste Stream- The entire process that solid waste goes through from generation to disposal or recycling.

Yard Waste- leaves, grass clippings and other organic materials that are collected from yards.

All About Plastic

Source: (Internet Consumer Recycling Guide)

With a little bit of care much plastic can be recycled, and collection of plastics for recycling is increasing rapidly. Plastic recycling faces one huge problem: plastic types must not be mixed for recycling, yet it is impossible to tell one type from another by sight or touch. Even a small amount of the wrong type of plastic can ruin the melt. The plastic industry has responded to this problem by developing a series of cryptic markers (See above graphic), commonly seen on the bottom of plastic containers. These markers do not mean the plastic can be recycled, these makers do not mean the container uses recycled plastic. Despite the confusing use of the chasing arrow symbol, these markers only identify the plastic type.

Virtually everything made of plastic should be marked with a code. Not all types can actually be recycled. Types 1 and 2 are widely accepted in container form, and type 4 is sometimes accepted in bag form. Code 7 is for mixed or layered plastic with virtually no recycling potential.

Plastic Containers (milk, soap, juice, fresh pasta, water, etc.)

All plastic containers you purchase should be marked with a large and clear recycling code . This code must be molded into the plastic and located on the bottom surface of the container. Ideally the entire container should be made of the same plastic to avoid confusion, but often the caps are of a different type. Caps should be separately marked, but few are. Note that most caps are NOT of the same type as the bottle they sit on.

Grocery sacks, produce bags, and other packaging

Plastic grocery and produce sacks are commonly, but not always, made from plastic types 2 or 4. These bags are often collected in barrels at grocery stores, and turned into plastic lumber.

Other Plastic Items

Any product made of a single plastic type should be marked -- after all the product may one day break or be replaced. This includes toys, plastic hangars, trash cans, shelves, baskets, rain ponchos, and many other products. Many products, such as compact discs, video tapes, and computer discs, are made from mixed materials which can't be recycled unless first disassembled.

The plastic types were defined by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI):

Type 1 - PETE Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Soda & water containers, some waterproof packaging.

Type 2 - HDPE High-Density Polyethylene Milk, detergent & oil bottles. Toys and plastic bags.

Type 3 - V Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Food wrap, vegetable oil bottles, blister packages.

Type 4 - LDPE Low-Density Polyethylene Many plastic bags. Shrink wrap, garment bags.

Type 5 - PP Polypropylene Refrigerated containers, some bags, most bottle tops, some carpets, some food wrap.

Type 6 - PS Polystyrene Throwaway utensils, meat packing, protective packing.

Type 7 - OTHER Usually layered or mixed plastic. No recycling potential - must be landfilled.

Types 1 and 2 are commonly recycled. Type 4 is less commonly recycled. The other types are generally not recycled, except perhaps in small test programs. Common plastics polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) do not have recycling numbers.

Understand that plastic recycling is really in infancy. The process is messy and inefficient. Numerous problems exist. For example plastic from a "blow mold" (the neck of the bottle is narrower than the body) has a slightly different structure from the exact same plastic used in an "injection mold" (where the opening is the widest part of the product). Because of low processing temperatures plastic is highly vulnerable to contamination by food, labels and different plastics.

Much recycled plastic ends up as low grade plastic lumber.

ASSIGNMENT PROJECT #4 RECYCLED DESIGN PROJECT

Design a chair using recycled materials such as plastic, cardboard, etc. Determine its size, shape, and the type of products that will be used. Explain the process you used to create the chair. Use various measuring devices mathematical calculations for size, endurance, etc. Investigate related recycling opportunities, for example, companies that are making similar recycled products. Estimate the cost of the finished product and the time it took to make it.

HEADING

Write a correct memo heading for this short report:

TO:

FROM:

DATE:

SUBJECT:

INTRODUCTION

Describe problem in a short introductory paragraph

BODY

Write a body paragraph with the content needed to describe your creation. Explain the design process: shape and size of chair, which recycled materials were used, and how it was assembled. Tell which measuring devices and mathematical formulas were used and for what reasons. Show any calculations used. Describe any similar recycling opportunities that are currently being used. List estimated cost and time to reproduce the product. You may want to attach a sketch, jpeg photo, etc., of the actual product.

CONCLUSION

Write a sentence or two telling what you learned from this project.

EMAIL

Put the report into e-mail format and send it to your instructors. See syllabus for email addresses.

Criteria for Evaluation for Design Project Email Memorandum (Student Designed)

1 = Weak 2 = Moderately Weak 3 = Average 4 = Moderately Strong 5 = Strong

Design Project:

1. The student has explained the project in terms of problem solving and has clearly described its results.

1 2 3 4 5

2. The student’s project makes use of, recycled materials.

1 2 3 4 5

3. The student develops an appropriate design process for the assignment, which follows the assignment directions.

1 2 3 4 5

4. The student’s problem solving employs accurate information or facts.

1 2 3 4 5

5. The student’s problem solving shows an understanding of measurement concepts.

1 2 3 4 5

Memorandum:

6. The memo starts with a purpose statement.

1 2 3 4 5

7. The organization of the memo is clear and easy to follow. It is paragraphed appropriately with an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

1 2 3 4 5

8. The content of the memo covers the design process of the assignment.

1 2 3 4 5

9. The memo is concise (not wordy) and uses appropriate terminology.

1 2 3 4 5

10. The memo is neatly typed and spaced attractively. It has been sent to instructors via email for evaluation.

1 2 3 4 5

11. The spelling, punctuation, and grammar are in acceptable standard English. Sentences are correct and varied.

1 2 3 4 5

Additional Comments: ___________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Total Score _________

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Objectives

❑ Determine shape and size of chair to be created from recycled materials, including plastics.

❑ Assemble chair using recycled materials

❑ Use measuring devices

❑ Investigate recycling opportunities

❑ Estimate cost and time of reproducing product

❑ Summarize results in a brief email report memo

Performance Expectations

❑ Instructors will evaluate student teams and individual students on the project; the evaluation will include problem-solving and teaming skills used by students and student teams.

❑ Students will have opportunities for self-evaluation, peer evaluation, and team evaluation.

❑ Individual instructors will test and grade students individually on content workshops and activities.

❑ The student project and short email report will be evaluated and graded by the faculty team.

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