K
irkwood High School’s LEAF Club has been confused with detention on more than one occasion while meeting in SC111. But what the few members of the club are doing can hardly be considered punishment. The dedicated students spend every Wednesday afternoon rolling around the school with large black bins collecting and sorting KHS’s recyclables.
“I joined because my family has always been hardcore recyclers,” Gina Becker, senior, said. “I want to help the environment. Also my friends encouraged me to join.”
Linda Dubis, science teacher, is the long time sponsor of the Leading Environmental Action into the Future (LEAF) Club.
“KHS started recycling as a school in 1989, but the actual club didn’t start until a few years later,” Dubis said. “The environmental science classes started a small pilot program recycling papers and cans but one student wanted to try incorporating plastic bottles, so she started the club.”
Audrey Studt, senior and president, has been a part of LEAF since freshman year and the president since her sophomore year.
“Once you start,” Studt said, “you don’t quit. I joined because I like the environment and this seems like a good way to help it.”
Studt took initiative and worked with the club and the district last year to acquire a new shed and dumpster to further LEAF’s impact on the school.
“We sort through all the trash cans in the hallways and one time we found 28 plastic bottles in the trash,” Jack Waldemer, junior, said. “We put the white bins out for a reason.”
Many students and teachers think the recycling bins located around the school are unattractive, Dubis said. However, LEAF Club would have to pay to replace the bins.
“I feel the district should care more about recycling and should pay for it in the future,” Dubis said. “Considering the amount of work we do, I think we should get some benefits [from the school].”
While the main goal of LEAF is to help the school, members are also concerned about the environment in general.
“Last year, we donated $200 to rain forests in Costa Rica,” Dubis said.
As well as raising money, LEAF also encouraged the district to gain a cardboard and plastic dumpster besides the existing paper one on campus.
LEAF members agree KHS is not as green as it should be.
“Kirkwood is known to be an environmentally-friendly community,” Becker said. “But the high school has so much potential [to be more green].”
Waldemer knows that having a larger group of students would make keeping up with all the recycling at the school much easier, so he encourages everyone he knows to join. Bekah Stewart, senior, agrees that more members would help the group accomplish their economic goals.
“More people would make it easier,” Stewart said. “I also think we should have a partnership with Kirkwood Youth Service to accomplish more.”
A normal meeting involves the four or five regular members gathering in SC111, gloving up and heading out to get the rolling bins from the janitors.
“We wear rubber gloves. It’s really not all that gross most of the time,” Becker said. “It doesn’t take too long either.”
The students do their part for the environment in their personal lives as well. From recycling aluminum cans and creating compost piles to using energy-efficient light bulbs and riding their bicycles, this small group of students is making a difference in KHS and the community.
“I really appreciate students who participate in LEAF. It’s great for the school,” Dubis said. “Lots of students don’t realize how icky it can be, but [the members of LEAF Club are] always ready and none complain.”