SpheriCity Project

The SpheriCity research projects goal is to understand and transform the linear consumption model that dominates the global economy. Northern is apart of the 11 cities chosen for this project. Research will be done through the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP) framework where waste data will be collected by the Debris Tracker, a data recording program made to organize data of raw material extraction, production, use, and disposal waste. Read more about the project here.

Debris Tracker

What is Debris Tracker? It is an app developed by the University of Georgia that allows users to collect materials and log the data based on quantity and material type.

Source of Trash: While some organizations have transitioned to alternative packaging materials, many stores and restaurants still rely on non-biodegradable plastics, such as PP and PET, for daily operations.

Items Found: When completing litter transects, cigarettes, plastic food wrappers, and aluminum cans were the most commonly found litter items.

Debris Tracker

Store Assessments

What stores were assessed? The team looked at 20 stores in Marquette, ranging from gas stations to large grocery stores.

What did assessments look like? During the assessments, the team collected data on the single-use plastic brands, packaging size, weight, and alternative material options available at each location. They audited the stores' convenience and staple products. Then created a cumulative list of the chips, candy, beverages, and tobacco items, as well as the stores' options for rice, oil, shampoo, and laundry detergent.

Findings: Many of the single-use convenience items sold in Marquette are primarily multilayer plastic film. Similarly, staple items are mainly packaged in HDPE, PETE, PET, and plastic film.

Interviews

Plastic Pollution: Marquette stakeholders tend to view plastic pollution as a significant issue, both locally and globally.

Awareness: The community is largely aware of the need to reduce plastic use. However, not all residents are interested in participating in recycling efforts or finding alternatives.

Ongoing Commitment: Community members, business leaders, and stakeholders are largely working together to continue public education, reduce plastic pollution, and seek alternative materials for use in their homes, businesses, and restaurants.