Every room in AHS contains one dark green container for recycling.  Although recycling is a positive move and good for the environment, getting the enthusiasm to do the work for it is a challenge.

In a current poll conducted on AHSneedle.com, 16 percent of students voted said recycling is very important.  Twenty-four percent voted recycling to be important and 33 percent said it was kind of important.  Only 22 percent decided recycling was not very important and 5 percent thought recycling is not important at.

To make a recycling project successful, people must be working as a team. 

Recyclables must first be put into the bins.

Next the recycling bins must be sorted out between what can actually be recycled, and trash that accidentally gets thrown in the bins.

Then the recycling needs to be transported to the recycling bins outside. Custodian Brian Inken pointed out the flaws in getting the recyclables in the dumpster. The cans, for example, must be put in one can at a time, which he says slows the process.

Maintenance man Jerry Jensen commented on the set-up after shaking his head, “Kids need to take care of the things they are supposed to. The students have to care and be motivated to do the work; it is their responsibility.”

Some recycling does take place at AHS. The kitchen staff recycles regularly.  Teacher Bev Schelling’s students assist in some areas as well. Shelling says her students tend to recycling of cardboard and cans from the concessions and kitchen area every day.

In past years, science teacher Kathy Hobsen’s classes helped gather and sort the paper from the green plastic bins in the classrooms once a week. However, no students are currently helping to gather the classroom papers to be recycled.

In a recent National Honor Society meeting, students discussed plans to take out the recycling on a monthly basis.