By: Arianna Sherese Carandang, Senior at Arroyo High School
Only a lunatic would sacrifice themselves to look through a school cafeteria trash bin. As an intern for an environmental nonprofit, EarthTeam, I along with a few others single-handedly sorted a day’s worth of trash at Arroyo High School (AHS). You wouldn’t believe the data we found. Or could you?
74% of the compost bins were contaminated, with 62.5% of their contents actually belonging to the landfill. The landfill bin itself held only 45.29% actual landfill waste, while 52.52% was compostable and 2.18% was still recyclable.
The most contaminated bin, however, was the recycling bin, with a staggering 91.19% contamination rate.
Every time a food-soiled napkin or an apple is thrown in the wrong place, it disrupts the entire system. Seemingly small scraps of trash begin to add up exponentially. The statistics reveal that a significant amount of waste, which could have been repurposed, was so contaminated that it could no longer be reused or reduced
In elementary school, I remember three large bins by the cafeteria exit, always accompanied by a friendly teacher guiding us to sort our trash correctly. I was shocked to one day realize that the labeled waste bins at my high school, designed for separating trash, all led to a single bag underneath—meaning even if students sorted their waste accurately, it made no difference. Most bins around campus have no sorting at all. The numbers I calculated with my team started becoming less of a surprise.
Global waste is growing—and it’s growing fast. About 530,000 tons of food is wasted in U.S. school cafeterias each year, the World Wildlife Fund estimates. Waste from food makes up about 65% of global waste generated. The World Bank estimates that by 2050 we will be generating 3.88 billion tonnes of waste each year, 16 times the weight of the Golden Gate Bridge.
All of that weight doesn’t just disappear. Dumping it into landfills releases large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, into the air, thus increasing global temperatures. There are over 3,000 active landfills in the United States alone. Imagine how many schools like AHS, which may even have worse waste management, contribute to this release.
You’ve seen videos online of polar bears falling off melted ice. The lakes we love to hike around are being polluted by huge algae blooms from extreme heat. We see wildfires like those in Los Angeles and feel the summers growing hotter. There needs to be a more effective approach to preventing environmental damage, especially in government-funded public schools.
We know it affects everyone. Especially for those who cannot afford to care. Ironically, low-income communities, those who are least responsible for environmental crises, are the most impacted by these silent steps to disasters. Based on the CalEnviroScreen map, many low-income neighborhoods are near landfills, highways, or dirty waters—exactly where they are exposed to pollution the most. Those who live in these neighborhoods are more likely to die a premature death, as cited in Harvard public health research.
But this issue is far beyond the reach of the hands of a working single mom.
This is a job for the federal government. Although they have spent billions of dollars on environmental protection, the US still spends 24 times as much on the instruments of military force in comparison to measures to mitigate climate change.
More funds should go toward improving waste sorting systems in schools, investing in better-sorting infrastructure, and increasing awareness to reduce contamination at the source. With these efforts, maybe AHS would actually have separate bags in its “built-in” sorting trash bins and not just open gray trash cans all around campus. If there is no one making sure schools are making eco-friendly choices on a district or state level, the government needs to implement a system that will last. Take time on it, and spend money to reach the most efficient trials, because it is worth it. South Korea’s strict waste management system—enforced with strict widespread bin separation—shows that investment in infrastructure works, with recycling and compost rates exceeding 60%.
And while the government is mostly responsible, it is we who need to fight for such change. Let it be known to your district office and congressmen. This isn’t about guilting students into sorting their waste perfectly—it’s about demanding better systems that make sustainable choices the easy and accessible option for everyone.
Yes, it is not the ordinary people’s obligation to protect the nation or the Earth. But even so, everyone should do their best to be mindful when they can. Change doesn’t have to compete with immediate concerns like housing or education. Instead, it can intersect with them. Investing in sustainable waste management and general awareness can improve public health and reduce the long-term costs of environmental damage, which should always be the priority of our government. Push for policies that make environmental responsibility a priority, not an afterthought. Because small scraps of waste add up—but so do small actions toward change.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Arianna is a senior who enjoys playing guitar and singing. She is even starring in this year’s Arroyo Talent Show. She joined EarthTeam her sophomore year in hopes to invoke environmental change not only in her community but across the East Bay. Her goal for this year is to end high school with great motivation!
