Water bottles, napkins, paper lunch bags, and other garbage fill the cafeteria trash can to the brim. Adding another piece of waste would push the trash can over the edge.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s website, the average American throws away over 1,130 pounds of trash each year. Moderator of the Recycling Club Paul Lazor, with the help of other faculty members and students, aims to reduce this number with a green initiative honing in on recycling.
After achieving the Green School status in 2007, JC had hoped to reapply again this spring for the title, but has not maintained Green School stipulations. Green School status recognizes schools that make an effort to reduce their environmental footprints
“Each year, we were supposed to make certain [Green School related] changes, documenting each one. It would be impossible to apply [this year] because we haven’t made that many changes since four years ago,” Lazor said.
According to Principal Madelyn Ball, the school has the resources to make the changes. “The school is in good shape for it [Green School status], it just lost momentum over the last few years,” Ball said.
Students’ lack of knowledge regarding what can and cannot be thrown into the recycling bins, particularly in the cafeteria, plays a role in the Green School status stagnation, according to Director of Facilities Stewart Walker.
In an effort to encourage and inform students about single stream recycling, a system of recycling anything other than plastic bags and things contaminated by food, 30-45 recycling bins are to be placed around the campus over spring break. They will be accompanied by “big, colorful signs” stating what can be put in the bins, according to Lazor.
In conjunction with Earth Day on April 15, the Recycling Club will be holding an assembly on Wednesday, April 25, to present the new recycling program. “We have everything that we need to get this done, it’s just a matter of organizing it and educating the school community about it,” Lazor said.
“By going green, the club can hope to educate the students and faculty on how to properly recycle, teach them why it is important . . . and mostly, to motivate them to want to help,” junior club member Morgan Jones said.
“If all students work together and recycle, it can make a really big difference. I want to be one of the people that makes a difference,” freshman club member Nicole Arrison said.
Following the assembly, Lazor will be on the prowl, handing out Wawa gift cards to those using the recycling bins who can correctly state what goes in the bins.
Lazor’s next project is a compost pile, but he’s focusing on recycling for now. “Rather than do everything at once, I want to do one thing at a time,” Lazor said.
Kailey Tracy is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.