Across the nation, there are more than 100,000 K-12 schools (MPR). For the majority of the year, countless students and staff spend most of their day at these schools, participating in various activities which affect the environment. If each school committed to making even small efforts towards environmental sustainability, this would have a tremendous, positive impact on our shared environment. Moreover, if this support for the environment were to take place at educational institutions on a global scale, the results would be monumental. This second article in the environmental sustainability series addresses how schools can help pave the way for a greener future. Mira Loma High School can be a part of this positive change.
One simple way for schools to promote sustainability is to incorporate this topic into classroom teaching. According to an article by Zegarelli, for younger students, teachers can introduce the topic to raise awareness and suggest simple lifestyle changes to conserve water and electricity. Meanwhile, middle school students can benefit from project-based assignments related to sustainability. For high school students, creating a course or curriculum devoted to environmental sustainability can make a lasting impact that is carried through life. Moreover, for any age group, watching movies or reading books as a class about sustainability can help promote this cause (Zegarelli). At Mira Loma High School, the ESS course does incorporate environmental health in its curriculum. Moreover, sustainability is a key concept in the IB economics courses.
No matter the class, within the classroom, teachers and students require many supplies. For example, paper is a key supply that is used for handouts, assignments, or art projects. As is true for life out of school, the goal inside the classroom remains to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Returning to the example of paper, handouts and assignments can become primarily electronic, reducing the need for paper. Meanwhile, for assignments, projects, or handouts that do need to be printed, be sure that this paper is recycled and not thrown away in the trash. Having recycling bins for paper in every classroom and reminding students to use it will help save many trees. According to Jill Staake, a former teacher, for pens and markers, choose brands that have refillable options. For example, the brand Pilot offers refillable dry erase markers, and many pen brands offer ink refills. Otherwise, pens and markers can be recycled through companies like Terracycle (Staake).
What about crayons? According to the National Crayon Recycle Program, “Unfortunately, most crayons end up in landfills. Crayons are made of paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product, that is not biodegradable. In the U.S. alone, more than 60 million crayons are discarded each year. That is over 500,000 pounds of waxy sludge that won’t decompose.” Fortunately, programs like the National Crayon Recycle Program exist to decrease this environmental pollution. The program accepts used, unwanted crayons, recycles them, and redistributes crayons to children in need around the world (NCRP).
Meanwhile, to reduce waste, other school supplies like binders, backpacks, and lunch bags can be re-used from year to year. Moreover, for students who bring lunches from home to school, minimizing single use packaging items like plastic sandwich bags and plastic water bottles can reduce harm to the environment. Better options include reusable silicone sandwich bags or containers, as well as reusable water bottles. If needed, also try to pack utensils and cloth napkins that can be brought back home to be washed and reused.
Many students however, consume lunches and sometimes breakfasts from the school cafeteria. In this case, compostable and reusable food trays are more environmentally friendly. School districts can also try to partner with more sustainable food providers, such as ones that use locally sourced ingredients, to help the environment (Zegarelli). In addition, while food waste is not ideal, it is likely that students will have leftovers from lunch or the cafeteria will end up with extra, unneeded food. In the latter case, it is worth checking with community organizations like food closets whether they can and would like to accept food excesses from the school cafeteria. This way there is less waste while also assisting those with food insecurity. Otherwise, schools can designate an area for composting food waste. This would save food from gathering at landfills, where the organic matter gets buried under other waste such that it is not exposed to oxygen. Anaerobic organisms are left to break down the food waste and in the process release greenhouse gases that cause global warming (Hu). When food waste is composted, the resulting compost can be used to fertilize the soil (Zegarelli). This natural fertilizer can be offered to community members as a replacement for chemical fertilizers, which are harmful to the environment.
Additionally, schools can reduce energy use to support environmental sustainability. Energy consumption often means more fossil fuels are consumed, which causes more greenhouse gas emissions. Schools can conserve energy by relying on more energy-efficient lights or turning off lights when a class or other room is not actively being used. It may also mean turning down the thermostat by a few degrees or turning off classroom computers when not in use.
Finally, changing the way students and staff arrive and leave school can also make a positive difference for the environment. Walking or biking instead of driving an automobile for those who live close enough to school will reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (National Geographic Staff). For those who require transportation by car, carpooling with others will help decrease environmental harm. Check school bulletins or school websites to learn about carpool options.
Students and staff spend many hours at school. Making small changes that benefit the environment during these hours will go a long way in keeping the environment healthy and preserve it for future generations.
Works Cited
“How Many Schools Are in the U.S.?” MDR Education, Dun & Bradstreet, 26 March
2024, https://mdreducation.com/how-many-schools-are-in-the-u-s/. Accessed 6 January 2025.
Hu, Sheila. “Composting 101.” NRDC, Natural Resources Defense Council, 20 July
2020, https://www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-101. Accessed 6 January 2025.
Staake, Jill. “How to Recycle School Supplies: The Ultimate Guide.”
WeAreTeachers, 14 May 2024, https://www.weareteachers.com/recycle-school-supplies/. Accessed 6
January 2025.
“The Environmental Impact of Cars, Explained.” National Geographic, National
Geographic Society, 4 September 2019,
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/environmental-impact. Accessed 6
January 2025.
“The National Crayon Recycle Program.” National Crayon Recycle Program,
https://nationalcrayonrecycleprogram.org/. Accessed 6 January 2025.
Zegarelli, Bria. “What Schools Can Do to Implement Sustainability.” Pittsburgh
Earth Day, Acrobatique Creative, 13 February 2024, https://pittsburghearthday.org/what-schools-
can-do-to-implement-sustainability/. Accessed 6 January 2025.
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