Lunch block is about to end, and even though you’re midway through a bag of chips or a cookie that was sealed in plastic, for the sake of time, you blindly throw it into the disposal method closest to you: the trash bin. By the end of lunch, the room is cleared, but yet the only thing full is the trashbin, while the recycling bin remains practically empty in comparison. With recycling bins right in front of our eyes, it is commonly questioned how we are so drawn to just throwing everything out in the trash bin? Are people at Hills recycling when necessary?
To understand why this has been happening, let’s ask those part of the Indian Hills community ourselves!
A custodian here at Indian Hills explained that recycling is about “50/50,” meaning that about half the people recycle while the other half don’t. They mentioned that even though they encourage recycling, the bins often end up mixed with both recyclable and non-recyclable items, and are separated once placed into factories. It seems that recycling at Hills is still a pretty neglected topic, and while some recycle correctly, many others don’t find it much of a priority. Without clear guidelines or reminders on where to throw away trash, it’s common that people will strive to find what’s easiest. The accessibility of recycling bins are present, but the constant hustle of getting to class may play a role in why recycling isn’t favored. Claire Chae, a freshman here at Indian Hills claims, “If I’m in a rush, I may not pay attention and just throw it out wherever I can reach the fastest.” Many students have a common mindset set towards being in a rush, so they will oftentimes take priority over conveniences rather than recycling.
What’s Next?
Well, based on what we’ve seen, Indian Hills needs to find ways to be more environmentally mindful whenever people go to throw something out. The environmental club is an amazing opportunity for kids at Indian Hills to learn more about how disregarding recycling is affecting our planet, and works to help out our community here at Hills and beyond. Recycling may seem like a small act, but it’s one of the simplest ways to help the planet.
