The Challenge of RecyclIng Keep The World Turning!

By: Christian Golden & Isaac Dennett

Recycling. It is super important! So why is our school not recycling? Alright, you may be surprised. We do have blue bins everywhere, but we are not recycling. We are going to get into the waste, the money, and the janitorial staff. Let’s start breaking down some numbers!

How much waste does our school produce? Let’s find out. I talked to Spencer Cohagen, head of custodial staff. Our school can produce more than 18,000 pounds of waste a year, of which up to 80% of which can be recycled! That can be a ton of difference, but It will be very hard to achieve due to that huge number.

We can make big differences, but how much will it cost? It’s hard to know. The district can be fined for trash in the recycling, and there can be insurance liabilities if personnel or students get injured due to objects in the recycling.

Not only that, but more janitors and custodians will have to be hired in order to transport all of this around, and into the recycling. Of which we would also have to pay more to have.

But what strain will this put on our janitorial staff? Is it even possible to do it with the current staffing amount? No. For every time we recycle from containers, they may have to be cleaned out. It would also have to take more trips, because you cannot pile everything into the same bag. It will have to be sorted to make sure no trash makes its way into the recycling. We would need way more people and staff will need to be recruited for this to even be a dream or a possibility.

What would lessen this problem drastically is help from you guys, the students. The janitorial staff would have to sort through the recycling to make sure nothing extra got in, so let’s make their job a little easier.Many of you don’t know what goes in the trash, and what goes in the recycling. So, let’s talk about it. Paper, cardboard, all recycling. Greasy cardboard or paper cannot be recycled, due to the grease on it. Some thin plastic products may be recycled, but check the product before throwing it in. Food cannot go in the recycling, along with any glass you may have. Any metal products, if you have any, have to go in the trash.

To wrap up this, we would need to talk and campaign with people of authority.

We would need to talk to principles, and people at the district office. Another thing that may help is to litter way less. If the custodians have to pick up less trash off the ground, they will have more time to do other things. So, while this may be a little far, and hard to achieve, just remember to respect the overworked custodial staff who clean up the school for you.