Reduce… reuse… recycle. It’s a phrase used in children’s’ school songs teaching sustainability to young and impressionable minds, but has since been deserted in the school system.

Beyond the sixth grade, recycling is often nonexistent despite the efforts sung in elementary schools. With the estimated 560,000 tons of waste generated in California schools per year, it is imperative that middle and high schools put a larger emphasis on campus recycling.

We do it at home, why not at school?

In the past 15 years, recycling has transformed into a simple lifestyle choice rather than a sacrifice. Every front yard has black, blue, and green cans. Kids know how to recycle. They’ve grown up separating their bottles and cans from the trash, so implementing this in schools shouldn’t be a question of HOW we’re going to teach students, but instead WHEN we can start.

If the prospect of reducing waste in our increasing neglected world isn’t convincing enough, the law should be. In January 2022, two California laws designed to reduce waste in the commercial sector were set to be enforced. The first of the pair, AB 341 requires all businesses to have a system for mixed recycling, while SB 1383 requires the addition of an organics recycling system. All public and private schools fall under California’s definition of a ‘business’.

Therefore, with the help of local jurisdiction, schools should legally have a full-fledged recycling program— including typical recycled materials such as aluminum and plastic, as well as organic materials like paper products, bio-waste, and wood. In San Diego County, only a handful of schools actually have a functioning recycling system, despite over a year of these laws in place.

Determined to make a change, Helix High School and our Environmental Club have taken significant steps towards campus wide recycling, as well as educating students on making smart, sustainable decisions.

Through school-wide events like habitat and community restorations, clothing drives, and lobbying meetings, Helix students have learned to take action in their community. The importance of reducing (waste on our sidewalks), reusing (lightly used clothes), and recycling (our plastics) is put into practice in Helix Charter High School, thanks to the compassion of both staff and students.

Bringing these sustainable education events to life was not without its struggles, however. A single Environmental club can only do so much to plan and execute a perfect event. As we’ve learned through much trial and error, it takes the effort of the student body and the staff to make an event successful. After leading as a part of the Helix Environmental club for two years, by biggest takeaway is that it takes a village to make a change.

To make a difference in our school, city, or county, we can’t act alone. Every step towards a sustainable future should be done step by step, hand in hand. School-wide recycling is a first step that we can all take, and it is one that is proven to be effective and possible.

So, this Earth Day, let’s start here. Let’s reduce, reuse, recycle; together.

Editor’s note: This opinion piece was provided by Haley Kay, a student at Helix Charter High School and president of the school’s Environmental Club. Image courtesy of EarthDay.org.