Environmental Effects of Plastic Water Bottles Essay

Environmental Effects of Plastic Water Bottles - Essay Example Research shows that approximately 18 million barrels of oil are used every year to manufacture plastic bottles in the US. It is also estimated that almost 3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are generated from the production process. Other studies indicate that approximately 3 billion of plastic bottles are disposed of in the landfill. Less than 15% of the plastic bottles are recycled. As a result, the disposal cost for plastic waste is estimated at $100 million inclusive of the transport, collection, and litter removal cost.According to Dobkin, & Weigand, recycling of plastic bottles will ensure that the funds used for disposal are directed to more pressing issues such as the maintenance of public water infrastructure.Despite the availability of recycling infrastructures for plastic bottles, according to Hopewell, Dvorak, & Kosior, (2009), 85% of the plastic water bottles still end up in the landfills. Approximately 20 billion plastic bottles are disposed of in the landfills. Ea ch plastic bottle takes up over 500 years to decompose. The landfills are not only filled with plastic bottles, Li, et al., suggests that over 20 billion glass bottles that never decomposes also end up in the landfills. The chemical compounds used to manufacture the plastic bottles can have devastating effects on the human health. Studies show that plastic bottles used by most households are commonly made from polycarbonate compound. The compounds are usually released in the liquid stored in the container.

Classical and Operant Conditioning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Classical and Operant Conditioning - Essay Example The following morning, they once again decide to get their exercise (UR) by walking (US) the same route of the past two days, only this time they enter the gymnasium to look around and make some queries. The fourth morning, they once again decide to walk (US) down Leon Avenue; and as was the case yesterday, they enter the gymnasium. This time, however, they become members (CR) having decided to use this facility for their exercising. The next morning and many mornings thereafter, the gymnasium (CS) is the place they go for their exercise (CR). This student has also chosen an activity for operant conditioning; namely, studying. A psychology professor has a double period every Friday. On some of those Fridays, the professor will, at the beginning of the second period, ask the students to study (desired behavior) the material from the first period, telling them they are free to ask him questions about the material that they did not understand. Some students do as asked, while others do not. Then, approximately 15 minutes before the end of study period a quiz is given. Those who studied, invariably obtain a good mark on the quiz, which serves as a positive reinforcement for their studying behavior. As students who studied keep receiving good quiz grades (positive reinforcement), it strengthens the desired response (studying) and increases the chance that it will keep on happening (Morris, 1976). Social and cultural environments actually act as powerful classical and operant conditioners. The class is one cultural indicator (Benchmarks on Line). If a person is born into a class (e.g. upper middle class) where diligent studying and resulting good grades are highly valued, a student will be praised and often also rewarded with tangible items such as a bicycle, camp, a skiing holidays, and so forth.