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Imagine seeing 20 years into the future. What can be seen or how it’s seen, is a mystery. It can be either good or bad depending on one’s actions. Many students at North High don’t realize that they are only trashing their own future when throwing away an empty bottle of water into the trash can or when throwing away food into the recycling bin.

An issue that has been around for some time is the amount of food thrown into the recycling bins in the hallways, and the amount of recyclables that are thrown into the regular trash cans. It doesn’t take much more than common sense to distinguish a black trash can from a green recycling bin. 

When food is thrown into the recycling bins, the janitors are forced to throw away the whole bag. The sad thing is, due to sanitation issues, recyclables are also thrown out. Whether we realize or not, our school is contributing to the thousands of pounds of recyclables that go into the landfills every year instead of into the recycling centers where they could be processed.

Is it a matter of distraction, laziness, or ignorance?

“Kids are being taught to sort and recycle starting in elementary, but something is happening by the time they get here. Why aren’t the kids carrying those lessons on with them? It’s just sad and literally a big waste,” Leadership and language arts teacher Sarah Turnbow said.

What items are considered recyclable? Empty aluminum, glass, plastic beverage containers, paper, chipboard, and cardboard. Aside from that, the plastic boxes which contain student lunches. These boxes called clamshell(s) can be recycled if and when they don’t contain food or stuff such as dressing.

” Sooner or later we’re going to have to realize the importance of recycling because of the problems the last generation left for us.  I feel like the dialogue on recycling is very complicated, and it’s up to our generation to take responsibility for it,” Senior Stuart Denner, a member of the leadership class which takes care of recycling at North said.

” I feel like students nowadays act carelessly when it comes to recycling, and don’t pay attention to how their actions will affect the environment. What they don’t see, doesn’t affect them,” Senior Jonnah Grant said.