Recycling Facts:

• Recycling one ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 1,000–2,000 gallons of gasoline.
• More than 30 million trees are cut down to produce a year’s supply of newspapers.
• A ton of paper made from recycled paper saves: 7,000 gallons of water, between 17 and 31 trees, and 60 pounds of air pollutants.
• Source: http://www.factmonster.com/science/environment/recycling-facts.html

You’ve seen the recycling boxes in every classroom, but do you contribute? Or do you use those boxes like an ordinary trash can?

Here at Miami High we only recycle paper, but it is collected from different classrooms. Recycling boxes are collected on a regular basis by student monitors assigned to science department head Dr. Hueck.

Recycling paper saves energy and some money for our school. Dr. Hueck said they make $50-$100 yearly through recycling. “Very little money is made. Most of the benefit from recycling is to help our world and be aware of our earth,” said Dr. Hueck.

Miami High’s school recycling program could be improved. Marine science teacher and Aware club sponsor Mr. Upperco said, “We try to recycle a lot because we worry about our environment. Ways we can help the program is by determining the waste costs and identifying potential savings.” Mr. Upperco believes that one major improvement would be to add plastics or other recyclable items to Miami High’s recycling program.

Mr. Upperco said the program started back in 1993 from a group of teachers in the science department. As the program progressed, students became involved. In fact, former SGA president Erick Hueck, Dr. Hueck’s nephew, made it go schoolwide seven years ago, by putting the recycling boxes you see today in each classroom.

Outside of Miami High, some students and teachers are involved in recycling. Mr. Upperco, who recycles plastic and glass, stated, “The secrets to recycling and pollution are knowledge and awareness.”.

Junior Lionel Zeraya said¸ “It saves the environment by not wasting plastic into trash.”

Senior Margie Garcia states recycling plastic prevents animals in the ocean from getting ill or killed.

“The more we recycle from here forward, it will reduce the amount of pollution,” said senior Angel Castro. “Then we can make more money and create jobs for our communities.”

On the other hand, junior Anthony Hernandez said, “I can’t recycle at my apartment as they haven’t funded it yet. I would like it to be funded so other people in my neighborhood can start soon.”