Cynthia UR How Many Picking Parcels Did She Pick ?

New UR                                     04/18/2018

My first attempt at a new projected focused on Recycling in my area and whether I could obtain data from Jell Recycling which is who my area contracts with; However, after tracking them down and speaking at a reception level with the company no further contact was made with me after leaving my information. 

FINE !!! :(

Time still running out I began to pick up trash and I liked it !!!!

Method: 

I use a mechanical grasping device to retrieve only on that which is at least partially exposed; I never dig or sift, and only turn over Organic material piles using the fork at the end. The objects are then placed in an empty cat litter bucket that has a lid and handle with a liner that I can empty contents when I am finished onto a box for photo record, dated and then securely stored till sorting.

It takes about an hour to cover this stretch walking along as you would if you were mowing a lawn, a three foot wide march back and forth north to south and back again.

Locations:

The first site location is on the beach from the Harvard Drive access north to a stairwell at the 200 ft. mark. Then out to the shoreline water.

The second site location on the beach from the Harvard Drive access south to a stairwell at the 200 ft. mark. Then down to the shoreline water. 

Data: Quantitative

Having retrieved an assortment, I decided to create a daily assessment, and classification: Bar graphing for classification and Point Graph to monitor amount over time period.

I will divide by miscellaneous plastics, cigarette butts, straws and wrappers. I don’t believe weight individually is a problem but I will weight each days totals to see if this decreases with each collection.  

Site #1 Day One

Site #2 Day One

My New Investigation;

How much trash is on this stretch of Beach?

What influences (type of trash) is most prevalent to the naked eye?

For my research I have chosen two sites with recycle and trash bins present on both sides of access drive.

• ·         Between 9:45 am and 11:10 am each day I retrieve data.
• ·         Both sites are in Ormond Beach at the Atlantic Coast.
• ·         Both have “Drive on the Beach” access.
• ·         Both are cleaned by the County of Volusia and I am waiting for information on how often and when the last clean-up was performed.
• ·         Both are cleaned up by an Organization that I have contacted in order to thank them and to find out the last time they were at that location.
• ·         Both boundary parking lots and one boarders a bar and grill.
•     Each site is checked every other day

Am I picking on the bar and grill? I don’t think I am. After all, I do not control the trash at these sites, and have no investment in this outcome.

It is a quantitative study using objective measurements and numerical breakdown of data collected. It is however a possible variable.