OUR RECYCLING ACTION PLAN

Have you ever thought about the load of paper used for daily handouts, quizzes and tests? How about the plastic bottles of water that you buy from the school cafeteria? What about the Coke cans - have you ever wondered how much metal is needed for all the world’s aluminum cans, which we eventually throw away?

It is important for every one of us to understand that our seemingly trivial activities have a great impact on mother earth. Therefore, NOVA’s student council members (including the discourse detectives), after a discussion on this urgent matter, have decided to take steps towards the conservation of earth’s resources by acting on a local level – in our school community. Firmly believing that no matter how insignificant our efforts are, we can still make a difference, we carefully crafted down our action plan for recycling two of the most abundant recyclable materials: paper and plastic.

Have you ever noticed the big gray plastic bin inside the cafeteria, and several more of those in the school? Those have been put there for containing the used recyclable plastic bottles that we throw away every day. At the end of every week the plastic bottles are collected in large bags and picked up to be recycled.

In addition to these large plastic bins, we have made sure that there are two cardboard boxes intended to serve as plastic bottle and paper containers respectively, in every classroom. In this way, the teachers, as well as students could dispose of the load of used paper in an appropriate manner.

But why recycle? Why bother walk several more meters when you could throw the plastic bottle in the nearby bin?

Taking just a moment to put your newspaper, soda can and ‘Rosa’ plastic bottle in the recycling bin will save everyone years in environmental harm from production of new materials, over crowded landfills and the depletion of our natural resources.

Recycling 1 plastic bottle not only saves anywhere from 100 to 1000 years in the landfill but also saves the environment from the emissions in producing new bottles as well as the oil used to produce that bottle. (http://www.chevroncars.com/learn/wondrous-world/recycling-facts)

For every 1 ton of plastic that is recycled we save the equivalent of 2 people’s energy use for 1 year, the amount of water used by 1 person in 2 month’s time and almost 2000 pounds of oil. (http://www.chevroncars.com/learn/wondrous-world/recycling-facts)

Still not convinced?

Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough energy to power the average home for five months. (EPA, 2008)

Recycling paper instead of making it from new material generates 74 percent less air pollution and uses 50 percent less water. (EPA, 2008)

Producing recycled paper requires about 60 percent of the energy used to make paper from virgin wood pulp. (EPA, 2008)

Now that you know these important facts and our determination to the cause of creating an environment friendly school environment feel free to join us. And do not hesitate to spread the word about our new recycling action plan – the change needed must be in our actions today. Only in that way will we be able to ensure a bright tomorrow.

* factual information taken from: www.environment-green.com
* for more information visit: www.environment-green.com/www.recycling-revolution.com/www.oberlin.edu/www.recycling-guide.org.uk.