After researching my wicked problem, I am plagued by what my best friend calls “hippy thoughts”. Every time I tear off a piece of selvage and throw it away, I think “what could this be used for?” Every time I see a cigarette butt on the ground, I ask myself, “where is that going to wind up?” It is a very overwhelming mindset to have. While I appreciate being conscious of my actions, it certainly makes life seem much more complicated. The main issue I have been thinking about lately was triggered from researching my paper topic. Fabric dyes are horrible for the environment. When brainstorming ideas about reusing fabric, I started to think about different ways to treat this fabric to make it more appealing to consumers. Naturally, dyeing it is one of the first things I thought of. However, while fabric dye may make our clothing beautiful, it has the opposite effect on our rivers, streams, and groundwater. I know there are naturally based fabric dyes (using purple onions, flower petals, tea, etc.), but can those really be utilized in an industrial setting? This is definitely a topic I want to research more.

            I appreciated being able to visit the recycling center. Every time I put something in a recycle bin, I always wonder where it’s going to wind up. Being able to see the process that those items go through before being shipped off to other facilities was really cool. I never knew that OSU invested so much into its recycling program. It made me really appreciate the university I attend. The compost pile was really interesting to me. I have heard about composting, but never really knew much about it. The trip certainly encouraged me to consider implementing it in my own home. In fact, I already have one step complete. My dogs have been providing me with compost material all throughout my back yard!  

            My question to the class is – what efforts are you going to make throughout your career to protect the environment? The DHM department encompasses industries that make up a very large portion of pollution and waste produced in the world. We all need to make a conscious effort to help protect our planet. What are you going to do?