# Fix an Unsustainable Practice

Part of the Sustainability Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/index.md)

*4. Sustainable Communities*

> **4b.** Identify one unsustainable practice in your community and develop a written plan to fix it.

## Finding Unsustainable Practices

Every community has practices that waste resources, create pollution, or harm the environment. The first step is to look around with a critical eye. Here are places to look:

### Transportation
- No bike lanes or sidewalks, forcing everyone to drive even short distances
- School bus routes that are inefficient, with buses running half-empty
- Lack of public transit options

### Waste Management
- No curbside recycling program, or a program with very low participation
- No composting options for yard waste or food scraps
- Excessive use of single-use plastics at community events

### Water
- Overwatering of public parks, sports fields, or golf courses
- Storm drains that carry polluted runoff directly into waterways
- Aging water infrastructure with frequent leaks and breaks

### Energy
- Public buildings (schools, libraries, offices) with poor insulation or old HVAC systems
- Streetlights left on during daylight hours or using inefficient bulbs
- No electric vehicle charging stations

### Land Use
- Paving over green spaces for parking lots
- New development in flood-prone or ecologically sensitive areas
- Lack of urban tree canopy, creating heat islands

> **Tip**
>
> Walk or bike through your neighborhood and take notes. Talk to local officials, attend a town council meeting, or visit your community's website to learn about current practices. Sometimes the most impactful unsustainable practices are the ones nobody talks about because they seem "normal."

## Writing Your Plan

Once you have identified an unsustainable practice, develop a written plan to fix it. A strong plan includes these elements:

### 1. Define the Problem

State clearly what the unsustainable practice is, where it occurs, and why it is a problem. Use specific details and data when possible.

**Example:** "Our community park's sprinkler system runs for 45 minutes every morning, even when it has rained. This wastes an estimated 2,000 gallons of water per week during wet months."

### 2. Research Solutions

Look at what other communities have done to solve similar problems. Identify multiple possible solutions and evaluate each one.

### 3. Propose a Solution

Choose the best solution and explain:
- **What** specifically would change
- **Who** would need to be involved (city council, school board, local businesses, volunteers)
- **How** it would be implemented step by step
- **When** each step would happen (create a timeline)
- **How much** it would cost (estimate if exact figures are not available)
- **What benefits** it would provide (environmental, economic, social)

### 4. Address Challenges

Every plan faces obstacles. Identify potential challenges and how you would address them:
- Cost concerns → Show long-term savings or find grant funding
- Resistance to change → Educate and demonstrate benefits
- Technical complexity → Identify experts or partners who can help

### 5. Measure Success

How would you know if your plan worked? Define specific, measurable outcomes.

**Example:** "Water usage at the park would decrease by 40% during wet months, saving approximately 8,000 gallons per month."

> **Be Prepared! Presenting Your Plan**
>
> When you share your plan with your counselor, be prepared to explain:
>
> - **Why you chose this particular problem** — What made it stand out?
> - **How you researched it** — Who did you talk to? What data did you find?
> - **Why your solution is realistic** — Could it actually be implemented?
> - **What you learned** — Did anything surprise you during your research?
>
> Your plan does not need to be perfect, but it should show that you thought carefully about the problem and proposed a practical solution.

> **Did You Know?**
>
> Many communities offer "Green Challenge" grants or sustainability mini-grants specifically for projects proposed by young people. Your plan might not just be an exercise — it could become a real project that makes a real difference.

![A Scout presenting a poster about a sustainability plan at a community meeting, with audience members listening attentively](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/scout-community-meeting?v=3201a05e)

[EPA Smart Growth Tools — Community Resources](https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/smart-growth-technical-assistance-programs): Technical assistance and resources from the EPA to help communities implement smart growth and sustainability practices.

Video: [Sustainable Communities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrBrpSTwPK8)

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- Previous: [Design a Community](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/req4a/index.md)
- Next: [Sustainable Housing](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/req4c/index.md)