Rain or shine, the Environmental Club works hard to keep the school clean. They do so by promoting proper recycling etiquette at school and even outside of school.
The proper way of recycling at MHS is by recycling only paper and cardboard in the recycling bins; however, recycling outside of school consists of plastic, paper, and metal cans. Not only is recycling important to the environment, but it’s also important for the non-renewable resources.
President of the Environmental Club, Jasmine Martin, emphasized, “Items that are recycled can be created into new things like shoes, clothes, and paper.”
Last year, the Environmental Club began putting posters above recycling bins on how to recycle properly within classrooms because of the lack of enforcement and awareness of proper recycling practices.
To their disbelief, they noticed drastic changes within the recycling bins, noticing a lot more paper and cardboard being recycled. However, Martin hopes to see MHS expand on its recyclable materials, such as plastic, glass bottles, etc. and further promote clean recycling protocols.
However, proper recycling shouldn’t only happen at MHS. Martin offers some resourceful ways to “help find a new life for many items,” such as keeping glass jars that may have been jam or sauce jars and turning them into cute aesthetic cups for drinks. She also likes to keep any non-renewable metal cans and plastics that may not be recyclable at school, and instead, recycle them at home.
Here at MHS, there is an attempt at recycling by providing a clear distinction between a garbage can and a recycling bin. They are typically placed next to one another, with the recycling bin having a list of recyclable materials consisting of paper and cardboard only; however, part of the issue with poor recycling within the school may be due to the proximity of the trash can and recycling bin.
When leaving the classroom, students tend to throw out any snack bags, empty bottles, and even chewed gum because the recycling bin is what’s closest to the exit and the easiest to throw trash in, with the bin being relatively large and open. This automatically makes all recyclable materials in the bin garbage because of the contamination from the unrecyclable items.
Sponsor of the Environmental Club, Marissa Grayson, puts it as, “One bad item makes the whole thing bad.”
With many believing that there is room for improvement within MHS and its attempt at recycling, sprouting, and springing forth, the Environmental Club brings hope for the future of recycling at MHS.
Recycling is typically promoted during elementary school; however, it doesn’t discuss the deeper impacts of not recycling.They may have brushed the surface of water pollution and trash generation, but did you know that in many cases, recycling is often thrown out because it’s done improperly, adding more to landfills, which already don’t have enough space to keep everyone’s trash? This trash eventually ends up in a marine garbage patch, then causes greater environmental and biological issues within the ocean.
Another issue is the growing demand for paper. Although companies try to go for a new sustainable approach for non-renewable resources by lowering the usage of plastic and changing to paper, this will create a bigger increase in demand for trees.Trees are essential for the environment as they provide oxygen and wood for humans and are habitats for many animals, which may end up losing their homes and end up displaced.
The Environmental Club aims to foster a green and clean MHS and take care of the environment.They do so by going on nature walks, promoting recycling, such as posting fliers above recycling bins, propagating plants, and playing games with environmental questions, which can also teach people new things about the environment and recycling.
The club is also a safe space for people to hang out with friends while still making an effort to keep the environment green.
Donovan DeGuzman, Vice President of the Environmental Club, stated that the reason why he joined this club was to “engage with others while connecting with the environment and to help contribute towards the change the Earth needs.”
Meeting every other Wednesday in room C212, the Environmental Club awaits all new members, eager to make changes and help make MHS blossom into a beautiful green school.