ConclusionsTrashLitter

=Conclusions:=

Is there is a problem with the garbage disposal program at flat rock brook???
Yes there is a problem with garbage disposal at Flat Rock Brook. Although there was not much litter along the trails or with the picnic sites, from our research it is clear the instructions for proper garbage disposal were routinely ignored. Recyclable goods were found in the trash bins and regular trash was found in the recycling bins. Also, we found a lot of paper items in both the recycling bins and garbage bins.

**Suggestions for Improvement of garbage disposal:**

 * Better placement of garbage bins and recycling bins
 * sometimes there were too many garbage bins in one area
 * Garbage Bins, 3, 4 and 5 were so close that they would have been more effected if they were better dispersed
 * there were not enough recycling bins
 * the was no recycling bin near the Garbage Bin 2 (near the restroom)- the closest recycling bin was either across the bridge or near the entrance
 * more detailed signs to better inform park visitors of what should and should not be recycled
 * signs should be larger and more visible
 * signs should clearly describe what is meant by type 1 and type 2 plastic
 * garbage bins should have warnings that recyclable goods should not be disposed within them
 * paper recycling
 * newspapers, maps, receipts and sheets of paper were all found within the garbages and at least one paper recycling unit was be helpful

Possible Sources of Error

 * If the collection site was visited after a recycling day, there would be less garbage.
 * On the contrary, if data was collected before a recycling day, there would be an abudance of garbage.
 * Miscalculation of Trash
 * The tops of the recycling bins could not be removed, therefore all observations from within the recycling bins were obtained from looking a small opening in the container and not by sorting through it.
 * the contents of plastic bags that contained other items could not always be evaluated
 * Tissues and other paper items disintegrate easily and can be hard to count
 * Tissues and other paper items disintegrate easily and can be hard to count

Further Research
If given the chance to due further research we would... 1) Compare the garbage disposal quality at the sites we visited to sites on the other side of the park 2) Research litter with the streams at Flat Rock Brook According to Ranger Mark, littered items that wash down from the streets into the waterbodies at Flat Rock Brook are the parks largest trash problem. In order to remove the garbage, Rangers must wade into the water to remove it. Just from walking along the trails of Flat Rock Brook we noticed a cup, a Lays Potatoe Chip bag, a water bottle and a condom along the bank of the brook that flows along the Red Trail and within the water. Therefore, we would like to evaluate how large this problem its effect on the environment to the effect of improperly disposed items within the park.

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