GET READY TO RUMBLE…I mean, Recycle

Notice the flashy blue recycle bins on campus? Rincon/University High School is the first campus to obtain recycling bins. We’re the guinea pig of sorts for a high school eco-friendly experiment. The idea to get recycle bins on campus originated earlier this year when the Students Activities Board (SAB) was discussing possible homecoming themes. The “Go Green” theme was chosen. Athena Myers was the first to say that if going green was the theme then SAB needed to “practice what they preached.”

Athena Myers is a senior at UHS and is passionate about putting words into action. She is the president of New Global Citizens and member of Key Club—two advocacy and volunteer clubs offered at University—as well as a member of Beth Braun’s organization, Esperanza. After, as Athena calls it, “ninja-ing” the members of SAB into a consensus, she contacted Tucson Clean and Beautiful. She hoped to add some green to the black and white scene by making recycle bins accessible throughout campus. Both representatives Athena spoke with had personal ties to the campus and were more than willing to help. This surprised Athena since she figured Tucson Clean and Beautiful was a busy organization and would have a difficult time getting back to her. She was even more delighted when they offered to donate the bins at no cost. That is, except for the cost of manual labor.

Yes, that’s right, SAB members are responsible for taking out the bins when they need to be emptied and stationing them at various places around campus. Though it may be a burden, it is a small price to pay for a less grotesque campus, Athena said. When I asked whether she believed the project was a success Athena stated that she did indeed feel that there was an improvement but also stressed the importance of knowing what and how to properly recycle.

“Most people just don’t know what to do,” she said, and mentioned two common recycling errors. In order to be accepted boxes must be completely flattened and if placing items into a bag the bag cannot be black. Black trash bags are not acceptable because improper items like dead animals can be hidden in them.

Tucson Clean and Beautiful has addressed this issue by adhering flyers to each recycling bin lid. These flyers contain instructions and a list of recyclable materials. This flyer along with other recycling information can be found at tucsonrecycles.org.

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