Fwd. ENVS THESIS DEFENSE: Amory Brandt THIS Wednesday 4/12, 1:30 WSQ 111: Inequitable exposure to the illegal dumping of waste within the City of San Jose
Laura Bates
PLEASE FORWARD, ANNOUNCE, AND POST:
The Department of Environmental Studies at San José State University
pleased to present a public research presentation:
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM WASHINGTON SQUARE HALL 111 |
Amory BrandtM.S. Candidate Environmental Studies Department San José State University
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Inequitable Exposure to the Illegal Dumping of Waste Within the City of San Jose
The theories of institutional and environmental racism have been developed most commonly to explain exposure to acutely toxic point-source pollutants, yet some of our most destructive environmental conditions result from the “death by a thousand cuts” of nonpoint-source pollution. Illegal dumping of household waste in and around city streets, specifically, results in many negative health, economic, and environmental effects, yet the relationship between this environmental ill and systematic injustice has yet to be examined systematically. This study identified, quantified, characterized, and mapped illegal dump sites within urban census block groups of San Jose, California to determine the relationship between dumping and socioeconomic factors. The most commonly dumped debris types were furniture, garbage, and household appliances. Results showed that median family income and percent of non-English speaking residents, as well as median household size, were the strongest predictors of illegal dumping. Increased dumping was further associated with higher rates of petty crime in the neighborhood. This study concluded that low-income communities are disproportionately exposed to illegal dumping and crime, likely due to factors such as social disorganization and inequitable levels of garbage service. Strategies to reduce dumping must creatively address underlying causes of the problem to be effective.
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED. ALL ARE WELCOME. |
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