Environmental Committee Pushes for Green School
The debate over climate change is an ever-changing issue with scientists, students, and politicians all weighing in on the discussion. While this debate has begun to dominate the politics of the age, concerns over environmental conservation have also been heightened.
Roberson students who enrolled in AP Environmental Science, and others who were just interested, formed the Environmental Committee this year. The committee is designed to inform and educate students about conservation while creating tangible change in the community. Senior Henry Haggart, who is one of Keen’s former students, is a leading member of the Environmental Committee.
“The most important thing for students to know is that they should be aware of the impact they have in their daily lives in the environment. I can almost guarantee that there is not a single person here whose lifestyle is sustainable,” Haggart said. “Be aware of how many materials and resources you use. Think about the implications that it could have on future generations and future opportunities for yourself.”
The committee hopes to join community members and Roberson staff to create a Green Team which will aim at making TC a “Green School” by following a set rubric of requirements. According to students on the committee, the key to being classified as a Green School is promoting sustainability and innovation in the sphere of environmental conservation.
“Our main goal is to make changes to the school that will continue on for years and years to come. We don’t want to do it just for recognition but to actually create something that will maintain itself and be beneficial to the community,” said adviser and science teacher Kevin Keen. “We’re trying to do things that promote involvement. You can become involved by becoming aware.”
Anticipated actions by the Green Team include revamping the recycling program, creating a composting program at Roberson and planting a garden which would be home to pollinating plants to appeal to the local bee population. Junior Zak Hudspeth is a leading member promoting the composting program.
“On-site composting is not likely because there are all sorts of problems associated with it, such as where to put it. ith the population size of our school, it would be very hard to have that big of an on-site composting system,” Hudspeth said. “The likeliest plan is to renegotiate our contract with Waste Management or find some other composting business that could do it for us off-site.”
Across the Buncombe County School district, three high schools, Enka, AC Reynolds and North Buncombe, have been recognized as Green Schools. Additionally, 23 elementary, intermediate and middle schools have also received that designation
Green Schools can receive different tiers of recognition from county to the state level. According to Haggart, the Roberson Green Team is aiming for state recognition.
“They rate you based on energy efficiency, community outreach, school philosophy, and innovation. Being innovative means coming up with new solutions to issues which haven’t already been thought of by other schools,” Haggart said.
Hudspeth believes Roberson could score points on the rubric for a state recognized Green School by eliminating the styrofoam trays from the cafeteria.
“Styrofoam is a known carcinogen. The chemicals in it can be released into your food. It’s also not a sustainable option, and it does not break down in landfills. That in turn causes build up in landfills,” Hudspeth said.
According to Hudspeth, the issue has turned out to be more complicated than the team previously thought. Roberson has too many students to have enough plastic trays for everyone, and washing the trays would also be an issue because there is not enough staff or dish washers.
Compostable trays are much more expensive so the school would need a grant, according to Hudspeth.
Although the Environmental Committee and Green Team are in the early stages, students have already begun planning to establish clear goals and initiatives that the committee hopes to implement this semester.
According to Haggart, one of the primary initiatives the team hopes to implement is a greater sense of awareness and involvement by the student body.
“I encourage students to be active and know what is going on. If you see new reforms here at school, just be aware of what they are and what their purpose is and how to best utilize them,” Haggart said.
Roberson students who enrolled in AP Environmental Science, and others who were just interested, formed the Environmental Committee this year. The committee is designed to inform and educate students about conservation while creating tangible change in the community. Senior Henry Haggart, who is one of Keen’s former students, is a leading member of the Environmental Committee.
“The most important thing for students to know is that they should be aware of the impact they have in their daily lives in the environment. I can almost guarantee that there is not a single person here whose lifestyle is sustainable,” Haggart said. “Be aware of how many materials and resources you use. Think about the implications that it could have on future generations and future opportunities for yourself.”
The committee hopes to join community members and Roberson staff to create a Green Team which will aim at making TC a “Green School” by following a set rubric of requirements. According to students on the committee, the key to being classified as a Green School is promoting sustainability and innovation in the sphere of environmental conservation.
“Our main goal is to make changes to the school that will continue on for years and years to come. We don’t want to do it just for recognition but to actually create something that will maintain itself and be beneficial to the community,” said adviser and science teacher Kevin Keen. “We’re trying to do things that promote involvement. You can become involved by becoming aware.”
Anticipated actions by the Green Team include revamping the recycling program, creating a composting program at Roberson and planting a garden which would be home to pollinating plants to appeal to the local bee population. Junior Zak Hudspeth is a leading member promoting the composting program.
“On-site composting is not likely because there are all sorts of problems associated with it, such as where to put it. ith the population size of our school, it would be very hard to have that big of an on-site composting system,” Hudspeth said. “The likeliest plan is to renegotiate our contract with Waste Management or find some other composting business that could do it for us off-site.”
Across the Buncombe County School district, three high schools, Enka, AC Reynolds and North Buncombe, have been recognized as Green Schools. Additionally, 23 elementary, intermediate and middle schools have also received that designation
Green Schools can receive different tiers of recognition from county to the state level. According to Haggart, the Roberson Green Team is aiming for state recognition.
“They rate you based on energy efficiency, community outreach, school philosophy, and innovation. Being innovative means coming up with new solutions to issues which haven’t already been thought of by other schools,” Haggart said.
Hudspeth believes Roberson could score points on the rubric for a state recognized Green School by eliminating the styrofoam trays from the cafeteria.
“Styrofoam is a known carcinogen. The chemicals in it can be released into your food. It’s also not a sustainable option, and it does not break down in landfills. That in turn causes build up in landfills,” Hudspeth said.
According to Hudspeth, the issue has turned out to be more complicated than the team previously thought. Roberson has too many students to have enough plastic trays for everyone, and washing the trays would also be an issue because there is not enough staff or dish washers.
Compostable trays are much more expensive so the school would need a grant, according to Hudspeth.
Although the Environmental Committee and Green Team are in the early stages, students have already begun planning to establish clear goals and initiatives that the committee hopes to implement this semester.
According to Haggart, one of the primary initiatives the team hopes to implement is a greater sense of awareness and involvement by the student body.
“I encourage students to be active and know what is going on. If you see new reforms here at school, just be aware of what they are and what their purpose is and how to best utilize them,” Haggart said.