WHAT: This infographic is intellectually stimulating in the way that it presents the benefits of composting. For me, the information about how composted soil retains water better made me think about how we could use compost to aid agricultural regions- such as California- that are experiencing drought. I had not thought about benefits of composting past adding fertile nutrition to soil and reduction of waste so this new benefit was intriguing and stimulating. It took the facts and spun it in a creative way that was relatable to its audience. It put the amount of waste created by American cities in terms of the weight of the Statue of Liberty. This effectively makes the audience think “oh WOW really?” and become more open to what the infographic is saying.
GUT: I was surprised by many of the facts about household waste in America. We are truly ruining the environment at a horrifyingly quick pace.
SO WHAT: I had never thought about how composting might make the soil able to retain water better and how less watering accompanied with lower fertilization costs could reduce agricultural costs. This would give motivation for farmers to actively compost. The author of the infographic was definitely trying to inspire people to compost by showing them the amount of waste Americans create and how this waste could create positive effects if composted.
NOW WHAT: I think our infographic should also include shocking facts put in a relatable way (i.e. no percents that can often be conceptual to the average person. Instead, it should take the data and put it in terms of something people can easily call to mind.) However, this infographic does not properly show the negative effects that result from food rotting in landfills. This information is vital to understanding why composting is necessary rather than just something that would be nice if it happened. Our infographic should show how much waste Americans create, how terrible rotting food waste is for the environment, and then show composting as a necessary step in order to slow down the rate of global warming.
