It is unknown how long it takes a plastic bag to decompose. It could take anywhere from a decade to a thousand years. Plastic bags photodegrade, which means they need sunlight in order to break down. However, most modern landfills are covered, blocking sunlight, so plastic bags in landfills may never photodegrade at all. This is why recycling plastic bags is so important. Through my research on recycling at Kent State University, I discovered that not only is there a lack of a system for recycling plastic bags, but that
the current labels on trash cans direct people to throw away plastic bags. My goal is to implement a system for recycling plastic bags at Kent State University. Through my visual and secondary research, I have created a plan for an informational advertising campaign, titled KSU Bags to Benches, that will raise awareness for
plastic bag recycling on campus as well as implement a system for recycling plastic bags on campus, therefore, reducing waste. To implement plastic bag recycling on campus, my goal is to have Kent State University work with Trex; a company that works with communities and universities to collect plastic bags and will donate a high-performance composite bench to the school.