Arroyo Seco Watershed Conservation Day

My name is E. Aaron Martinez. I am a Life Scout in Troop 5. I have started my Journey to the Eagle Rank. My service project is an environmental conservation effort with an explicit goal of removing code 1 plastics (for example, plastic water bottles) from washing out to the Pacific Ocean. I have determined it would work best to conduct the conservation effort in Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco Watershed. The Arroyo Seco Foundation has agreed to be identified as my Eagle Service Project’s “Beneficiary.”

Project Overview:

My project is a Conservation Project. My first step, is organize and lead a contingency of scouts and other conservationists to who will enter the Arroyo and target specific areas (based on maps and directions that I will provide) so to collect trash and debris. The collection process last at least one-half day. The remainder of that day will consist of taking all of the debris collected and separating it into various categories, including:

• Recycle code 1 plastics

• Other plastics

• Recyclable tin and metal

• All other materials

From this, we will take the total weight of the items in each category and compare it to the total weight of our entire haul. I will determine the percentages of each category based on all items collected. Everything collected will be disposed of or recycled. A specific goal will be to collect and keep discarded plastic water bottles (referred to as code 1 plastics above).

Then, on Friday, April 28, 2023, I will sponsor a booth at the Polytechnic School’s 100th anniversary Poly Pet & Hobby Show, where I will showcase my project to all the attendees. This includes a summary of items collected on the Arroyo Seco conservation day and a laboratory demonstration (that has already taken place in my high school chemistry class, at the Polytechnic School) showing how recycled code 1 plastic bottles can be repurposed through the chemical upcycling process.