Boran Tatli

Can Hayes School be more Environmentally Friendly?

Thanks to a more aware society, many schools and public projects have helped our society reuse. Reduce, and recycle. But can schools do more?

 

I can start by stating the environmentally helpful programs that already exist in full force at Hayes School, one of which are the recycling boxes in many of the classrooms. This is especially useful, as the waste paper from cutting things out would otherwise go to the bin. 

 

However, there are many improvements that can be done. In an interview with Mr Lane, the Head of Year for Year 11, he comments on various ways Hayes School can improve. He says:

 

” I believe Hayes must do so much more for the environment and sustainable living.  I believe the litter is a real problem, not just that it is so often dropped on the floor but that so little of the waste students actually bring into school or buy from the canteen is recycled.  Think of all the plastic bottles, tin cans and cardboard pots that will just end up at a landfill site.  We must have recycle bins and lots of them!”

 

Mr Lane also commented on how on his trip to India, he saw how the boarding school there were comparatively cleaner and more caring towards the environment, mainly due to the more extreme weather condtions, such as the monsoon rains that occur yearly. Mr Lane says: 

 

” During my trip to India I worked in a boarding school for a week.  The students obviously live there as well as work there so they cherish the environment that they have.  There were the normal bins around the campus but there was never any rubbish being dropped on the floor; it seemed so clean. I was actually there during monsoon season which explains why they focus a lot on collecting natural water through the year with water bins on the roofs of buildings”

 

The interview with Mr Lane brought to light various issues, and with it, solutions. The first issue being litter. The students of Hayes School are responsible for the disposal of litter, from the environmental prefects ensuring that litter is picked up, from the students – from Sixth Formers to Year 7’s. The other main issue in Hayes school is the usage of energy, as it is described by Mr Lane as being ”scary”. On the topic of energy, Mr Lane says that:

 

” So often we waste electricity because we don't turn off lights or we keep our heating or air conditioning on too much.  We need a better infrastructure in school to simply turn off lights when rooms aren't being used. No one can see the damage that is being done to the environment or the money that is being wasted on electricity that could be used on so much more important resources for a school. Somehow students need to understand that just because they don't need to do something, it doesn't mean that they shouldn't”

 

If Hayes School is to become more environmentally friendly, it is clear that it needs to do more simple tasks to ensure the safety of the environment, and should take on board inspiration from India’s schools.