Photograph by Samuel Heller
It is just as important as ever to recycle at Berkeley High School (BHS), despite what you may have heard. While there are numerous rumors that BHS does not recycle, these are patently false. Although BHS principal Erin Schweng does not know how the rumors originated, she has “definitely heard them a lot of times.”
When Schweng asked BHS head custodian Raymond Young the specific question of whether the school recycles, Young replied that recycling is picked up by BHS custodians weekly, put into City of Berkeley containers, and picked up on a schedule. BHS recycles food court materials, cans, bottles, paper, and yard debris. After the recycling is collected, it is in the hands of the city’s recycling services.
Schweng is well aware of the rumors’ existence, though she is uncertain of their beginnings. She has considered possible origins, offering that the unnecessary concern that BHS fails to recycle might be because students “see the custodians coming and dumping things into the trash.” Due to the prevalence of these rumors, Schweng had previously inquired about the school’s recycling.
Schweng made a point to voice her hope that this article debunks the rumor so that the rumors can stop and BHS can get back to recycling. It is important that students at BHS know that these rumors are false, because these rumors cannot be exploited as an excuse not to recycle. Recycling can help conserve materials, reduce waste in landfills, and save energy and natural resources. Recycling is the easiest way for students to help reduce their waste on Earth.
Recycling is also cheaper for the school district than paying for trash pickup, according to UC Berkeley Environmental Science professor Mark Spencer in his interview with Berkeleyside. Spencer contended that, “In general, schools pay less money if they put out less trash, because recyclables have a dollar value.” Students at BHS cannot forget how important it is to recycle, especially considering how easy the school makes it, with recycling bins present in most classrooms and in many locations outside. Students also have to remember not to use the rumors that BHS does not recycle, which are untrue, as an excuse for personal laziness.
Recycling saves energy, and conserves materials and natural resources. Remember to recycle, and if you hear friends saying that BHS does not recycle, please remind them that these are false rumors. BHS supports recycling, and so should you. It is not only better for the environment, it is also better for the school.