Watch Your Step

An average person produces approximately 7 to 10 kilograms of waste per week, and the type and amount of this waste vary depending on lifestyle and consumption habits. The majority of this waste consists of food waste, plastic, paper, glass, metal, and occasionally electronic waste. Plastic waste, in particular, is among the materials that take the longest to decompose in nature; a plastic bottle decomposes in 450 years, a plastic bag in 100-150 years, and a straw in 200 years. Glass bottles, however, can remain in nature for almost 1 million years. While organic waste like paper decomposes within 2 to 6 months, and food waste typically decomposes between 1 week and 1 month, it can take 50 to 200 years for metal cans to decompose. Therefore, when the waste produced weekly is released into nature, it causes serious environmental pollution in the long run. Furthermore, since most of this waste is not recycled, soil, water, and air pollution occur; this situation threatens both the ecosystem and human health. In conclusion, weekly waste production, which may seem small-scale, can cause serious damage to nature in the long term, making waste reduction and recycling habits crucial.

Currently, approximately 30 million tons of municipal solid waste are generated in Turkey. According to 2012 data, the per capita waste amount is 1.14 kg. If a 2.5-liter plastic bottle is recycled and used in production, it is possible to save 6 hours of 60-watt electrical energy. Recycling one ton of waste paper saves 17 trees. When a single glass bottle is recycled, enough energy is saved to light a 100-Watt light bulb for four hours.

The Watch Your Step Project was prepared to draw attention to the waste generated in one week. It represents the impact that waste such as food waste, plastic, paper, glass, and metal leaves on nature when not recycled. This project, prepared to raise awareness, aims to show the long-term effects of what we consume.

https://www.ozyegin.edu.tr/en/hse/health-safety-and-environment/environment/waste-management