Snack wrappers, crumpled pieces of paper and plastic containers scattered on the floor around the school. Napkins, crumbs and splattered condiments lie on the utensil pickup station just past the cafeteria checkout line. A milkshake spilled on the hallway carpet. Trash piled under the bleachers after football games. Takeout containers strewn about in the parking lots.
Litter left in the hallway and outside the school is sometimes thrown in the garbage when it may actually be recyclable. Trash that is not properly disposed of contributes to pollution.
Students are cutting corners without considering the larger environmental consequences. No matter how inconsequential a piece of trash may seem, purposely taking actions that perpetuate climate change is inexcusable. These seemingly meaningless actions are problematic, and it is crucial for students and administration to do something about it.
Paraprofessionals and maintenance staff provide students with frequent reminders about cleaning up after themselves, but these reminders are treated with the same disdain as when students are told they cannot leave class early or take food outside the cafeteria. For example, some students still leave sandwich wrappers in the SA Hall or throw gum wrappers on the ground, seemingly out of sheer laziness or entitlement. It is impossible to single-handedly solve climate change, but students should do their part to maintain a clean school environment.
Students who see trash should pick it up, regardless of who it belongs to. When students witness littering, they must speak up and firmly tell peers to dispose of their trash. If confrontation does not work, students should not hesitate to report litterers to a dean, paraprofessional or other faculty member. Those who litter are willingly subjecting themselves to the consequences. There is no hiding this behavior.
Faculty must enforce consequences for littering. Upon a student’s first offense, such as leaving out a soda can or salad box in the hallway, faculty members should issue a warning. After multiple offenses, students should be directed to the deans for a conversation about further consequences, such as detention or eating lunch in the Deans’ Office.
Students deserve a clean school, and more importantly, a clean environment. Those littering need to be held accountable. The environment does not have a voice. We do.