How can South-West Become a Greener School?

This article analyses three to five practices South-West should adopt to reduce human impact.

Schools are supposed to teach. Schools are supposed to teach leadership. Schools are supposed to educate. Schools are supposed to give students a brighter future. So, shouldn’t schools be leaders to make our planet a better place for future generations? Research shows that human impact is harming the environment with pollution and carbon dioxide. As a middle school student, I want to see my school reduce human impact on the environment. South West must reduce or eliminate single us plastic, go paperless, and plant a community garden.

The first thing South-West needs to do is reduce or eliminate single use plastic. Every day at South West students use plastic forks, plastic straws, plastic bottles, plastic markers, plastic cereal bowls,and more.”40% is single-use plastic that is bad for the environment”(Plastic Pollution by Allyson Shaw). If we replace plastic containers an d cutlery, with reusable or compostable options, we will reduce South West pollution output. In addition to eliminating single-use plastics, South-West has to reduce paper waste.

The South West needs to go paperless. Paper production comes from

trees and deforestation which is a problem because humans and all living creatures need oxygen. “Trees also play an important role in absorbing the carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change. Fewer forests means that more greenhouse gases remain trapped in the atmosphere.” (Habitat Destruction, by Allyson Shaw). Every day students in South-West use paper in just one class and never look at it again. This is a wasteful practice that is bad for the environment. Furthermore, South West can plant a community garden to feed community members and support biodiversity.

Community gardens reduce carbon emissions and promote biodiversity. When food is shipped across the country, that shipping process releases a big carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Native grasses and flowers help create healthy biodiversity.” It is through the work in our garden that our students find a place in which they can create and improve the world in which they live.”(The Benefits of Gardens by New York Times). It is important for students to have the power to control their environment.

It’s time for South-West to become a greener, more environmentally friendly place. We can reduce or eliminate single-use, go paperless, and plant a community garden. What are we waiting for? The only people we can depend on to fix these problems are ourselves.