Recycling at Trumbull High School is one of the best steps our school and state are taking to make our world a better place. In every classroom there are two recycling bins: one for white paper and one for bottles. Just by their presence, students should be forced to use them, which, by the amount of Arizona Tea sold at the School Store, is a lot.
However, the school is not as environmentally friendly as previously thought. Thanks to multiple tips from students and teachers, it has been discovered that multiple members of the janitorial staff have not been properly recycling.
In accordance with Section 22a-2088v and Section 256a of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 22a-241b of Regulations of the Connecticut State Agencies, Connecticut state agencies, like the school systems, are required to recycle about 10 items, most importantly glass and beverage containers and white paper.
Local Trumbull laws are vague on recycling; while a person cannot necessarily be fined for not recycling, garbage haulers who combine recycling and garbage have been fined. According to the Trumbull Public Works web site, a residential hauler was fined $3600 for combining items.
Mr. Bike, head of sanitation, along with Mr. Savo, stressed for school-wide collaboration on the
issue of recycling. “Working together is the best way we can solve this issue, it’s and issue we want to correct,” Mr. Savo said in an interview. Along with acknowledging the issue, Mr. Savo and Mr. Bike, both had ideas on how to correct the issue. “My guys are told paper
is tossed if it has been contaminated by food and they know the bottles should be recycled...They know the system,”
issue of recycling. “Working together is the best way we can solve this issue, it’s and issue we want to correct,” Mr. Savo said in an interview. Along with acknowledging the issue, Mr. Savo and Mr. Bike, both had ideas on how to correct the issue. “My guys are told paper
is tossed if it has been contaminated by food and they know the bottles should be recycled...They know the system,”
Mr. Savo said he and the administration would address the issue, “The teachers should monitor the bins in the classroom while students continue to recycle and the janitors will continue to do their job,” he proposed.
Writing and Reporting by Brett Rosen, Co-Editor-in-Chief
As I recall, The Eagle's Eye did a similar story on this issue a couple of years ago when I was still a student there (Grad 2009!). At that time, several students (including myself) had seen the custodial staff collecting the contents of the trash and recycling bins from the classrooms into a single collection bin. When pressed on the issue, Mr. Bike claimed that they sort out the recyclables later. Obviously this cannot be proven and if it is true, then why even have multiple bins in each room?
ReplyDeleteClearly the situation hasn't changed in 2 years and the same problem is being observed by students. Based on this article, it seems that once again, the school administration and custodial staff are reluctant to admit any wrongdoing or willingness to change their practices. I don't see a problem with the custodial staff carting around 2 bins, instead of one, to separate out trash and recyclables, just as they are already separated out in the classrooms. This would show to students that the school is being true to its word and save the custodians time, if it is indeed true they have been sorting the material later.
Keep pressing the administration and custodial staff! It's time they made a change to their practices in regards to this issue.