It is probably not shocking to any to us to hear that the United States releases billions of gallons of toxic waste into the air, soil, and water every year. And, of course, this is not just an American problem; it’s an international problem. In fact, in some parts of the world the water, air and soil are so contaminated that it is projected that these areas will be deemed inhabitable within the next 100 years. With each passing year, it seems this problem only gets worse. If humans continue to treat our planet like a giant garbage can, we are going to destroy the earth completely. While this problem seems like it is too big to tackle, there are things that we, the students and staff here at Wayne County High School, can do to help combat this crisis.
One thing we can do is to make it a priority to recycle our paper and plastics. There are already recycling trash bins in every teacher’s room in the building, but how many of us actually take the time to put our waste in the proper containers? We need to make sure we put all of our recyclable things into these bins. Doing so not only helps to save the planet, it also helps to save money. In addition to recycling in the classrooms, we could have place recyclable bins in the cafeteria so students and staff can recycle paper products and plastic bottles.
Another way we can help to combat the problem of pollution is to carpool. If WCHS students carpooled with friends, walked, or rode the bus to school, we could help to greatly reduce vehicle emissions. Vehicle emissions are responsible for the distribution of harmful gases, which include carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. Together, these gases cause ground level smog that aggravates breathing difficulties. The staff at WCHS could also consider carpooling to work in order to help reduce these deadly gases.
Finally, we could help combat this problem by eliminating the use of disposable plates and eating utensils in our cafeteria. For many years, school cafeteria used real silverware and trays. Why can’t we do that again? Using these items would not only help to save the earth, it would also save our school money.
We are not defenseless against the giant problem. There are many things that we can do. So, be smart. Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Together, we can help to save our planet.