Kicking off in December, the Green Club is implementing the need for recycling and the stop of carbon footprint.Certain students will be assigned to recycling bins in the classrooms to be sure that everything is recycled properly. Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide and other compounds that are emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels. Because recycling can reduce the amount of carbon footprint, Mr. Entress, a chemistry teacher at Hammonton High school, states the importance of recycling and how the school can better the program for the future.

“Mr. Quinty was in charge of the program before I began teaching at the high school. He purchased the bins and they have been in the classrooms for more than eight years.”, said Entress.

When asked what needs to take place to ensure that items get recycled, Entress states the need for education.

“The teachers need to be aware of what the students are throwing into the bin. Also, the students need to understand what can be recycled and what can not. That is why there are posters on the bin they can read to make sure,” he said.

According to the New Jersey Solid Waste Management Act, the Atlantic County Utilities Authority is appointed to be the waste agency for Atlantic County. The act is used to protect residents of New Jersey. New Jersey soon developed a mandated goal of reducing the amount solid waste being disposed through mandatory recycling. To ensure that waste facilities would be paid for, the state initiated waste flow control. This requires that all waste generators must be disposed only at the districts designated facilities.

Junior Paul Pullia, Green Club president, explained that the students and workers in the school must be more aware of recycling. If not properly sorted or mixed with trash, it cannot be recycled.

Pullia saw some of the recycling bin contents being dumped into a trash can because it was mixed with non-recyclable material.

“The Green Club never really did much to make sure the school was up to date with recycling.,” he said. “By knowing what can actually go in the bins, it will make it easier because some things are not biodegradable.”

For more information about the recycling program, students can see Mr. Entress or a Green Club representative.