Students and staff have expressed concern and confusion about the recycling at Howell. 

The former sponsor of the Safe Club, Mr. Berendzen, was previously responsible for the recycling. Since his resignation, the new science teacher Michele White has taken the position.

“It’s true, I am the new Safe Club sponsor,” White said.

Recycling rules differ from last year. 

“We are only able to recycle what the recycling company is willing to pick up,” Principal Dave Wedlock said. 

The company has expressed complaints with Howell, claiming that there has been too much trash in the recycling.

“As a result, they have told us that we need to refine what gets into our recycling bin outside, or they will stop picking up,” Wedlock said.

White had to make some changes in procedures regarding what goes in the recycling bin.

“That being said, I don’t know who exactly is putting trash into the recycling bin,” Wedlock said. “There could be community members who are coming by and dumping trash in the bin. I don’t really know.”

Students can participate in helping keep the recycling clean by only putting recyclable materials in the bins. 

Teachers can also help to make recycling easier for the Safe Club. 

“It would make a really big difference if the teachers could put their recycling bins outside their room, that way we can see it is available to be picked up and we can pick it up even if the teacher has to leave,” White said. 

Questions surrounding recycling rose with students, questioning why the recycling isn’t a janitorial responsibility.

“It’s just not a part of their job responsibilities,” Wedlock said. “Their responsibility is to clean the entire building every night, and that would be something that they would need to accomplish first before you know we could consider having them do the safe club recycling.”

The Safe Club is currently comprised of six students who meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for 30 minutes after school. Both the students and the sponsor of the Safe Club are hopeful for more members to join in the upcoming months.  

“Most of the students only join, I think, in order to gain a parking pass. That being said, we would really love it if we could get some more members,” White said.