New Trier Recycling

    Recently the number of grocery stores that no longer use plastic have been on the rise. With all the climate strikes that have gone on it is hard to deny the fact that global warming is an issue and we need to take action. Many of the students that go to New Trier attend climate strikes and support the change, but this raises the question of whether or not New Trier feel the same way; so where does New Trier stand on climate change?

    I was previously under the impression that New Trier doesn’t recycle, but I was proven wrong; according to New Trier News, we do in fact recycle. However, New Trier only recycles half a pound per student each week. This may seem like a lot but many of the recycling bin’s contents are often discarded because New Trier’s students (myself included) are under the impression that the school doesn’t recycle and are less conscientious of what they throw into what bin. NT News states that if more than ten percent of the recycling bin’s contents are contaminated all of the items inside are thrown out. To prevent this, New Trier’s environmental club has made signs posted around the trash bins that tell you how to sort your various wrappers. 

    While the signs are helpful I find it a little ridiculous that with all of the eligible voices at New Trier no one stands up to invalidate the rumor that New Trier doesn’t recycle. If New Trier does value the environment, they would do more to promote students to be conscious of what they throw out. The signs are great but with the fast pace schedule the students move at and everyone going on their way, not everyone is going to look up and sort their wrappers, especially if they are still unaware that New Trier does recycle. The post on New Trier News was informative but no one really goes out of their way to look up and see if New Trier recycles, and if that’s the case and if we really are concerned about the environment then we need to do something more substantial to promote a good cause. If grocery stores can give up the plastic used to sell various items, New Trier can go as far as to announce on the loud speak that they do in fact recycle. Do you think that New Trier should do something more to promote their recycling system? If so, what do you think would be most effective?