Reduce, reuse, recycle!  These three words have been carved into every teenager since they were young.  Recycling does help the environment, but how much does the Hoban community actually know about recycling?

For my Eco-Action project for Environmental Science class, students were each allowed to pick a certain topic or project and  venture out into the community and do it.  My topic was, if you did not guess already, recycling!

When surveyed with the question: What country is the leader in trash produced per day per person?  0% said Russia, 3% said India, 20% said China and 77% said the United States.  The U.S. was the correct answer.  Overall, those results were accurate, however what would happen when faced with a tougher question?

The next question on the survey was: Recycling one aluminum can saves how much of the energy needed to produce a new one?  Well, 18% of those surveyed said 20%, 36% said 45%, 28% said 70% and 18% said 95%.  The correct answer is 95%.  

Aluminum cans are one of the easiest items to recycle, especially at school.  Over 87% of those surveyed recycle aluminum cans.

Last on the list of Hoban recyclables is electronic waste.  Electronic waste is a loose category of obsolete, broken or discarded electrical or electronic devices.  Computers, televisions and mobile phones are thrown away in huge quantities everyday because of the rapid technology change and low initial cost, and it is taking a toll on the environment. 

With only about 20% of the students and faculty recycling electronic waste, one might ask where it goes.  Developing countries such as China, Malaysia, India and Kenya are dumping grounds for e-waste from the United States.  So what can be done to control our e-waste?  Everyone must try to repair an electronic before just throwing it out and buying a new one, or at least use the working parts.  As technology changes almost faster than a blink of an eye, everyone must be doing their part in recycling electronic waste.

“Use the recycling can more than the waste can,” said senior Sam Hannah.

Hoban students and faculty must also be commended for what they do right now.  Over 90% of those surveyed recycle more than one category, whether it be paper, plastic, aluminum, glass or electronic waste.

If it was more convenient to recycle plastic bottles, glass and electronic waste, would we?  Being that there are paper recycling bins in every classroom and receptacles in the cafeteria to put pop cans, when recycling is easy for students especially, they would do it in a heartbeat.  If Hoban had a few containers for plastic bottles or glass in the cafeteria, then more students would recycle those items because it is quick and convenient.  

To change America’s rough habit of throwing away electronic waste and other useful materials, every person needs to take a look at what they do in their own life.  

In the words of Mahatma Ghandi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”