2016 Berthoud, Colorado, USA
This proposal focuses on the overall aesthetic and practical appeal of trash cans. In order to reduce the amount of trash around the school, the students decided to take large trash cans, modify them to make throwing trash away easier, and paint creative designs on them to make people want to throw their trash where it belongs.
The aim is that having eye-catching trash cans in an obvious area will decrease the amount of litter around. Since litter can be washed into rivers and lakes, it creates many problems by polluting the water, and also potentially to harming marine animals as well. For example, the green-way through Colorado Springs was recently lined with trash after high water levels. Wildlife is directly affected by these types polluting plastics making their way into the animals’ habitat.
Timeline and Budget:
- March 1, 2016- Received trash cans, trash bags, clamps, bolts, washers, locks, and nuts from Home Depot (Total= $754.17)
- March 4, 2016- Started contest at school for students to paint the trash cans
- March 13, 2016- Modified trash cans by cutting holes in the sides to make throwing trash away easier
- March 29, 2016- Received paint from Larimer County Landfill’s Drop & Swap
- April 22, 2016- Painted and decorated trash cans
- April 29, 2016- Created infomercial video
- May 2, 2016 – Modified trash cans by adding touch ups and clamps for the trash bags