Over the course of the past few weeks, I asked a simple question to different people across campus: Is there recycling in the lunchroom? The answers were… a bit baffling. The most common response was that they did not know. Students and staff alike had trouble answering the question. The real answer is yes: there are recycling bins… but are we using them to their full potential and could we be doing more?
Thankfully, ACAD has an invested facilities department that takes care of the waste and recycling in classrooms and other buildings. According to the facilities team, our school produces 192 cubic yards of cardboard, 192 cubic yards of recyclables, and 1,300 bags of recycling each year. That’s a lot! We can give ourselves and the facilities department a pat on the back for this good work. The one area, however, that I believe has room for improvement with our environmental impact is the Tillman Center lunchroom.
Curious to learn more, I went to speak with the Director of Student Services and Environmental Club Sponsor, Bob Sears. He shared with me that, in the past, Athens Academy has instituted a successful recycling and composting programs in the Tillman Center cafeteria, which is great! But then again, where are these comprehensive solutions now? Sears explained that the lunchroom recycling program matriculated away when “the students who spearheaded it graduated.” The logistics of maintenance proved unsustainable without people who were interested and dedicated to maintaining these essential programs.
The good news is that there is hope! Juniors Nina and Marie Rutledge will be working on a lunchroom composting initiative as part of their joint Capstone Research Project. Marie says that after taking the AP Environmental Science course last year, she felt that composting was missing from Athens Academy. She adds, “We are so excited to get this program up and running to try and make a small difference on such a pressing issue.”
It is vital that we all act in ways that benefit each other now and our greater community in the long run. It is also important to understand the cumulative effect that one small act, such as recycling a plastic bottle, can have on our planet. We must call upon ourselves to act responsibly.
These goals of sustainability are only achievable with invested people to advocate for them. Sears says that the Environmental Club is seeking new leadership as the previous ones are about to graduate. If anyone is looking to get involved with the Environmental Club, please reach out to Bob Sears at [email protected]. Our planet will thank you!
