AHS should bring back old recycling methods

by Olivia D.

Whenever a new school year starts, the pros and cons of the school itself are immediately debated by the new crop of kids, and the cleanliness of the school is always a topic of conversation. I myself have discussed with my own friends the need for AHS to do better when it comes to cleanliness and environmental impact, and one thing we have noticed is that no recycling program exists here. One of the ways AHS could help contribute better to the environment is by adding more options for cleaning— like recycling options.

In general, some people are for recycling while others do not care.

To benefit AHS and its community, another recycling program should be implemented for cleanliness, spreading awareness, and to protect the environment.

First of all, according to SCDHEC, if students had access to recycling options, the school would benefit in cleanliness. Every person in AHS can see the waves of trash in the cafeteria, due to old soda bottles, bags of candy, and so much more, much of which is recyclable. If students had options to independently throw these items away, the regular trash cans would be far less likely to overflow, and there would be less random trash strewn about the school. When students only have one way of disposing trash, it can cause an unnecessary overflow of trash all over campus.

In an interview with Jack G. (a freshman in AHS), he made the comment that while he thinks it’s a good idea to get a recycling program, he doesn’t think students will actually recycle.

However, if students were given options to recycle on campus, it could create good routines. If a student was encouraged to recycle correctly in a school environment, this idea could spread to their home, then public places. According to the article from Smartassets, recycling spreads important information and awareness to all people, and creates good habits for students later. If students are already aware of the concept of recycling in AHS, then this could spread good habits around in everyday life.

Although it would be helpful to implement another recycling program for the benefits of the school, it would also benefit the overall environment. Throughout the last century, researchers have shown that recycling benefits the environment overall. According to Conserve Energy Future, statistics show that when a community implements recycling methods the environment benefits. Parts of the environment that are protected by recycling include the trees, having less plastic waste, less pollution, and wildlife is protected. Wildlife in the environment can be heavily protected when trash is properly disposed of, due the spreading of waste and deforestation being minimalized.

Although there are obvious benefits in implementing another recycling program into AHS, there are still reasons the school may not want to. Back in 2020, AHS’s original recycling program ended, due to the cost and haggle of disposing of the trash. The program has not restarted since the teacher who used to oversee the program, Dr. Stephanie Bailey, left to work at Cardinal Newman High School.

However, there are now obvious contradictions to that reason for stopping. If the school had a recycling program, there would be less of a need for custodians (due to the change in trash management).

Now, nearly four years later, almost every person can argue that the school would benefit from a new recycling program.

Mrs. Hutchins (a P.E. teacher in AHS) made the statement that “an attempt in making another recycling program would be better than nothing.”

Whether people actually put in effort to adjust to this hypothetical change, one can still know the benefits of recycling. If the school implemented another recycling program, it is very likely that the school would benefit in cleanliness, spreading important awareness, and in protecting the environment.