Tra Tran’s Project – Small Steps, Huge Impact

My name is Tra Ngoc Huong Tran. This is my PhotoVoice Project which is about recycling to help protect the environment.

My participant is my boyfriend, Nick. He is currently working in the Hospitality industry, he will turn 30 next year. My boyfriend is someone who has a lifestyle that I think is quite healthy and does good things with his life. One of the things I especially noticed in his daily routine is that he always pays attention to recycling plastic products to help protect the environment. He was very excited and agreed to support me for my Photovoice project on this topic.

“As a global citizen, I take extra steps to save our planet by using reusable water bottles over single-use plastic. It may be a very small step and doesn’t sound too important, but this small step can help reduce huge amounts of plastic every day. I used to use single-use water bottles to drink water every day and it usually takes 4-6 bottles to be put back to our environment. I didn’t realize the importance of using reusable water bottles until one day when I visited Starbucks and they encouraged people to use their own personal cup in order to save plastic/ paper cup being thrown away into the environment. Starting from that point, I notice we could do a lot with just a small, simple step – as we drink water every day, instead of using 4-6 plastic bottles, we could all switch to use a very cool, stylish and environmental friendly cup. Plus, this can also a hobby as I already have a mini collection of these water bottle.” – Nick

He has always had a hobby of collecting different types of water bottles to further support the use of personal water bottles. He always says that these small contributions to the environment can both help spread positive messages and give him a new hobby of collecting water bottles. I really feel this is very good, plastic is always one of the causes that greatly affects the environment, although his contributions are still at a micro level, I believe that every day there will be many people realize this!

“Another small steps that I take is using the recycle trash bin for some trash that can be recycled such as can/ bottle/ paper, … In a world grappling with the consequences of excessive waste, recycling emerges as a beacon of hope. This photo captures the first step in a transformative journey of our trash, showcasing the power of recycling in mitigating environmental impact. A lot of people don’t really pay attention to this as they all think all trashes are the same, who would want to do more to something got dumped anyway. However, to me, every item placed in a recycling bin is a testament to conscious consumption, as it is a step away from landfills and towards a circular economy. Recycling creates a closed loop, where materials are continuously reused. This sustainable cycle reduces the demand for raw resources and minimizes environmental impact. All people deserve a second chance and so does the trash, from recycled plastics to repurposed paper, the end products showcase the versatility and potential of materials given a second chance.” – Nick

My boyfriend always thinks that everything he cares about recycling is small steps, but for me, the things he does are just the beginning but a prerequisite to raising awareness of environmental protection through classify types of waste. I think this issue of waste classification has been receiving a lot of attention because most of the public places I go to encourage people by creating two bins for trash. Recycling plastic products will bring people other products that people may need, not only meeting people’s life needs but also contributing to creating an increasingly better environment.

“This is another way I use my plastic bottle heading to sustainable environment. With most of the empty plastic water bottle, I cut them in half and use as a plant pot. This step not only help reduce plastic, but also help grow more green cover in the area. I love gardening and it encourages me more when I find out, I can make my own plant pot from a recycled bottle. Moreover, nurturing these bottle-grown trees requires only a little water and care. It’s a small act with a profound impact on the local environment. This can be a fun family activity where parent can show their children how to take care of these small bottled-grown tree, as the trees mature, they blossom into a testament to the potential within discarded materials. “ – Nick

Nick and I have always had an interest in growing different types of plants. We always believe that finding plastic items in the house and turning them into plant pots is extremely interesting and useful. They help us save money on plant pots and also create a recycling cycle for all kinds of plastic items that we accidentally use in our daily activities. Not only does it support the environment by recycling plastic, but planting trees contributes to creating greenness for life and creating fresh air. In addition, I also really like his details about tree planting activities that can also be family activities. Parents can teach their children about cultivating tree sprouts and seeing the results after they have planted them, mature and bloom. It is not only a lesson about farming but also a lesson about recycling plastic objects, raising awareness about not being wasteful. Creating beauty in recycling is beauty emerging from what was once considered waste.

Theme: Small actions create a more environmentally friendly community. I chose this as the theme for the photos and sayings that Nick brought. We can see the use of personal water bottles, waste separation when disposing of your waste and planting trees by recycling plastic materials. This may currently be Nick’s own act of contributing to the environment, but if every day one person recognizes these small contributions, it will increasingly create a huge impact. I firmly believe that the environment will receive great protection from everyone.

Expanding: After reviewing the readings that I read throughout the course, I found that the reading titled “Health and Environmental Vulnerabilities” in Module 1 is quite related to Nick’s story. Climate change mentioned in the reading is a big problem, causing very bad effects on both humans and the earth’s ecology. Actions such as reducing waste by recycling, planting trees and creating vegetation around living areas, although only small steps, are the premise for minimizing the severity of climate change.