ECO-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY LIGHT RECYCLING PROGRAM

Day 8 
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW:
In an era where environmental sustainability is paramount, this engineering design challenge focuses on developing an eco-friendly holiday light recycling program. With millions of holiday lights discarded each year, often ending up in landfills, this challenge is not just timely but essential for promoting a greener holiday season.
CHALLENGE STATEMENT:
Participants are tasked with designing an innovative and sustainable program for recycling old or broken holiday lights. The goal is to minimize environmental impact while ensuring the process is feasible and efficient.
BACKGROUND/SCENARIO:
Inspired by the children's book "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss, which emphasizes the importance of caring for the environment, this challenge situates participants in a real-world scenario where holiday lights significantly contribute to environmental waste. Participants should consider the entire lifecycle of holiday lights, from production to disposal, and the challenge they pose to waste management and recycling systems.
CHALLENGE CATEGORIES:

1. Collection Mechanism: Designing an effective system for collecting old or broken lights from households and public spaces.
2. Material Separation: Developing methods for efficiently separating different materials (wires, bulbs, plastics) in holiday lights.
3. Recycling Process: Engineering a process to recycle materials in an eco-friendly manner, potentially repurposing them for new uses.
4. Public Awareness and Participation: Creating strategies to encourage public participation in the recycling program and educate them about its importance.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Documentation: Submit a detailed report outlining the design, including diagrams, material lists, and process flowcharts.
• Prototype (optional): Participants may choose to create a small-scale prototype of their design.
• Eco-Friendly Focus: All designs must prioritize environmental sustainability, using recyclable or biodegradable materials where possible.
• Compliance with NGSS Standards: Submissions should demonstrate alignment with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), particularly in the areas of environmental science and engineering principles.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

• Innovation and Creativity: Originality of the design and approach to solving the challenge.
• Environmental Impact: Effectiveness in reducing environmental harm and promoting sustainability.
• Feasibility: Practicality of implementing the design in real-world settings.
• Alignment with NGSS Standards: How well the design incorporates and demonstrates NGSS principles.
• Community Engagement: Potential to engage and educate the community about sustainable practices.