The Dumpster Project Essay

Each and everyday people look for a way to help the community and environment around them. It could either be picking up trash around the local park, or cleaning up destructed areas, it could even be simply turning off the lights after you exit a room. How much does one really need? How might this affect the environment? One professor at Huston-Tillotson University, Jeff Wilson, took it a step further to answer that question. Wilson constructed an experiment called ‘The Dumpster Project’. Wilson moved from a large home into a dumpster. When journalist James Hamblin heard about this project he wanted to share it with the world. Hamblin uses the technique of in depth examination and expression to show the environmental impact and inspiring

simplicity of the experiment that took place.

The introduction of the article introduces the experiment as ‘The Dumpster Project’. It was supported and constructed by the university, it was even located on school grounds. They began by building a baseline for the dumpster, using a tarp and some cardboard mats. The experiment only grew from there. He went on to explain the what all that Wilson cut down on besides just his living environment and taking his step towards living simply. He takes this opportunity to deeply analyze all that Wilson did.

Hamblin writes a lot about the hopes for the experiment and where it could take it for a great advantage. For example he uses a quote from the professor explaining the home would be “‘fueled by sunlight and surface water’”, this allows Wilson to live to a better advantage for the dumpster and on his own.

Hamblin also shows the trials that the experiment encounters.

One that he uses is “In the austin heat, the dumpster was getting up to 130 degrees fahrenheit during the day. On some nights it did not fall below the high 80s.” The living conditions for the professor were not ideal for a specimen such as us humans and a bit difficult to control in his case. This leads into the weather. Hamblin sets it up by structuring his example with a phone call he and Wilson had to talk about the dumpster. During the call the professor exclaims that “... It’s a downpour. I’ll be back in about a minute.” This is a prime example to how quick the weather could change. These challenges only encouraged the act of advancing the dumpster and how it worked. They soon installed an air conditioner for the heating and a sliding door for the roof. To advance even more, a look for a dome to catch rain water will soon be

added.

The experiment is built from a series of phases the help to advance the experiment. It began with the basic dumpster with only a mat for a place to lay. Each phase they began adding something new to make the project more unique. One advancement that he made during phase one was installing “cubbies under a recently installed false floor” to store things like clothes and other useful equipment. On the six month anniversary of the experiment, in the midst of phase two Wilson “procured a modest air conditioner” to help with the heating issue, previously spoken about. He also includes a small list of other advances that appeared on the dumpster, such as “a bed, a lamp, and a classic home-evoking pitched roof that will slide back and forth to allow ventilation.” Phase three included adding a window, toilet and other homely needs.

This article is convincing do to the environmental progression acts.
It was important for Hamblin to include that Dr. Wilson is a professor in “environmental change, global health and welfare, and environmental science” which supports why this project was made for him. Quite frequently throughout the article it references what someone really needs to benefit themselves and the environment around them. For Wilson, being in his profession, it was not hard for him execute the task of downsizing, he used to dwell in a “2,500 square foot house” which does take up a particularly large amount of environmental ground. He then moved to his “36 square foot dumpster” and is a huge drop from where he was at, and is quite beneficial for the environment. Referencing again the use of the flat screen and the La-Z Boy, Wilson also cut down on using most electronics and other energy wasting items to also demonstrate the way you can save energy for the environment.

This article and experiment was beneficial for educational purposes as well.

The position of ‘The Dumpster Project’ was taken and funded by a university. So in that case many students viewed it as it developed and many students were probably curious on how it all worked. Hamblin uses Wilson stating this whole project as an “educational initiative” allowing us to know of the significance it is to him as a professor and him personally. The project is also allowed to be used by others,Wilson “will stay with a friend, and students from the ecology-focused campus group, Green Is The New Black will get a night to stay in the dumpster” this allows students to have hands on educational experience with the project and to pull their own pros and consof the experiment. Hamblin states that the dumpster effects many other educational areas. He concludes that “There is a K-12 curriculum built around the dumpster experiment, and eventually the finished dumpster will be transported to schools for display” this allows not just the students from the university but a wide range of students around the area to learn about this

project.

Living Simply In A Dumpster also resembles a strong view on living simply, given the name. The article talks a lot about downsizing and how much does a person really need in order to live simply and successfully. Hamblin includes the act of cutting down on clothing. Wilson was left with “four pairs of pants, four shirts, three pairs of shoes, three hats, and [...] ‘eight or nine’ bow ties”. Living simply also includes not being isolated and taking a chance to expand yourself. Wilson expresses his experience with this by telling Hamblin “I’ve spent a lot more time in the community [...] I know I have met a much wider circle of people just from going to laundromats and wandering around outside of the dumpster”. Hamblin and Wilson analyzed this as a self reflection towards living simply and what someone really needs.

In conclusion the author, James Hamblin, takes the opportunity to express through the structure of this essay, not only the environmental motives but also the other pieces that can be taken away from the whole experiment. It is very important in this day and age to understand how we can educate ourselves on the environment and how to live simply. It may be just an easier lifestyle that needs to take place and this article may be a wake up call or a call to action for you. Others may just want to learn about ways to help the environment and how we humans might be able to make a serious impact on the future.