Recycling program re-established at BHS

Recycling+program+re-established+at+BHS

The Baldwin Education Foundation grants money to teachers to encourage and aid their efforts in revolutionizing learning in their classroom or at Baldwin High School as a unit. 

Spanish teacher Katie Marten was awarded a grant to begin recycling in the school.

“What message are we relaying to students if we condone single-use items, excessive waste, and maintaining the status quo with no regard to the possible consequences for their future?” Marten said. “My hope is that by starting a recycling program this year, people will see the value in it, and the funding will follow. I hope students will become invested in the betterment of our school, community, and environment, and will use this recycling initiative as a foundation to be built upon for further efforts in sustainability.”

Marten sees the recycling program, not only as an opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint, but also an opportunity to instill habits in the students of BHS that will help them become better citizens.

“As evidenced not only by our building mission, but also the strategic plan of our district, it is clear that we say we are trying to produce empathetic students who are or will become contributing members of society,” Marten said.

A lot of students are very passionate about recycling and how our actions impact our planet.

“I think it is good to recycle,” sophomore Campbell Lund said. “It is everyone’s duty because the Earth is every single living creature’s home and when we pollute the environment, we’re not only hurting the future of ourselves, but also the next generation, your neighbors and every other living creature on Earth. When it comes to recycling, I think that even when it is little things, it makes a big difference.”

Marten was the winner of a BEF grant. This grant will provide four months of funding for the recycling program, but after that, funding will have to come from another source.

“It is so much fun to give money away – especially when it is to such great teachers for their thoughtful, interesting ideas,” BEF Executive Director, Kathy Gertsner said. “We are so lucky to have wonderful educators who year after year come up with innovative ideas to help our students excel and learn. It is also gratifying to hear from the kids who are so excited about the projects.”