Soil Pollution From Recycling Centers: Case Study Analysis from the Campus of Michigan State University

Conclusions

It is crucial that we conduct more studies of this nature so that we can continue to make advancements in areas such as recycling, in terms of reducing the negative anthropogenic impact on the environment. Future studies may compare the environmental effects of recycling facilities that are not LEED certified to those that are. Potentially, facilities that are not LEED certified would have a greater effect on the local environment than those facilities that are LEED certified. Results from a study like this could be instrumental in raising the national environmental standards of recycling centers. Whereas our study involved soil analysis, future studies could also investigate effects of recycling facilities on local plant and animal life.

This study pertains to an ongoing ecological topic; as our knowledge grows of how anthropogenic processes affect the environment, we are better able to limit the negative consequences such processes. Soil is increasingly being recognized as a reliable cue of overall ecosystem well-being. Thus, being able to quantify soil health will be a useful tool in regulating the entire ecosystem. Having a comprehensive depiction of what healthy soil should look like will allow scientists to isolate variables that cause deviations from ideal soil condition. Being equipped with this knowledge will allow scientists to more effectively prevent such deviations from occurring, thus preserving ecosystem health.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Jameel Al-Haddad of Michigan State University for guidance in developing this experiment, providing resources associated with this project—including access to the soil analysis kit and the laboratory—and for editing this article. Special thanks to Dr. Matthew Morra of Idaho University for editing this paper, as well.

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