Let’s talk trash. It’s something that we deal with after lunch, during class, and throughout the entire school day. It is a daily nuisance that most of us don’t think twice about. Recently, litter has become abundant around our campus and the Bethany Lutheran Church parking lot due to the actions of students and faculty. Sophomore, Kamryn Morales personally picks up trash around campus to benefit the environment and beauty of our campus.

“I think that littering on campus is a major issue because we don’t realize how fast the things we throw out pile up,” Morales said. “So even if you don’t think the occasional things you discard outside of designated waste disposals add to the issue, they really do.”          

Custodians clean up trash on and off the Bowie campus, including places like the church parking lot and on the street of Wolftrap Drive. Head Custodian, Theresa Bachmann describes the immense amount of trash left in these areas.

“When someone drops a wrapper that’s one thing but sometimes that could be an ‘oops’ I dropped something, but other times we go over [to the church parking lot] and there is a whole pile of trash in one place,” Bachmann said. “It’s like somebody took all the trash out of their car and dumped it in one spot on the ground instead of in a trash can.”

Complaints about the issue of littering have been made by the church which has resulted in custodians cleaning these areas twice a week. Bachmann explains other areas custodians clean and people who help contribute to the cleanliness of our school.

“I think that especially on the outside areas of the building there is a lot of trash and litter that ends up there. We do have the life skills students that help pick up trash between the cafeteria and portables. There is definitely a lot of litter around,” said Bachmann.

The Life Skills class last semester has started to beautify the school by cleaning areas of our campus such as A hall and F hall.

“It is part of our campus jobs program,” Life Skills teacher Ryan Titus said. “It helps our students learn job skills and the importance of helping their community. Our students are very prideful when they can help Bowie be a happier place.”

The job of honorary custodians benefit the kids by teaching the importance of keeping the environment clean, and how to classify recyclable items.

“Littering is a major problem on the campus,” Titus said. “Our students know it is a problem too. They help clean because they really care about their school.”

There are no policies in place to prevent littering on our campus but ideas have been suggested.

“One of the teachers suggested that all of the students from one wing just go out once a week and pick up trash in a certain area and rotate it around,” Bachmann said.  “If the students see how much trash there is maybe it’ll make them think more about when they litter.”  

Prevention starts with individuals. In order to keep our school and environment free of debris, everyone must do their part.

“While I do believe littering is bad and it does negatively affect the environment, I don’t believe that anybody intentionally litters,” Morales said. “So the issue is a matter of staying conscious and aware of the footprint you’re leaving on the planet.”

Bachmann tells us what she would like the student body to keep in mind.

“When you do throw trash it really does reflect on the attitude not just their attitude but their attitude of the school,” Bachmann said.