When you think about the inside of OCHS buildings, you probably envision a clean, proud, and welcoming school. But when you think about the parking lots, you may not feel the same way as you might inside. As you may have noticed, the parking lots at OCHS have recently been littered with trash. It has gotten out of hand quickly and requires much more attention.
Most of the noticeable trash is in the free parking lot near the J building. But litter affects all areas of the school’s parking lots. The garbage consists of everyday items, such as school lunches, energy drinks, chips, and soda. Heaps of this litter are especially noticeable after lunch, when students have just finished eating. This trash is noticeable to staff and students each time they enter the parking lot, and it is not something that people want to see.
This matters because litter has several negative effects on our environment and community. According to the Institute for Environmental Research and Education, “Littering, the improper disposal of waste, significantly degrades ecosystems and poses a serious threat to both human and animal health.” Without proper trash disposal, contamination via microplastics and excess chemicals can affect our soil, water, and air. Much of the improperly disposed of trash consists of materials such as plastic. Plastic can take up to over five hundred years to decompose. This builds up quickly, and limiting the amount of these excess materials is a priority.
The admin team at OCHS is working to resolve this issue; however, it is not that simple, and they should not be expected to take full responsibility for it. A greater student effort to clean up after themselves would help tremendously. By adding more trash cans in areas where litter is common, students may find it easier to dispose of their trash properly. This wouldn’t eliminate litter, but it could greatly reduce it. Also, enforcing stricter litter rules with harsher consequences may deter students from breaking them. Positive incentives are also a valuable option. Rewarding students for following the rules and disposing of their trash correctly would make them more likely to continue doing so, and may later lead them to set an example for other students. In fact, someone may be more likely to litter if they feel that the environment around them is already messy. They may think that their garbage makes no real difference in the vast array of other clutter.
Oregon City High School is an amazing school. All of us need to do our part to ensure our school represents our community as best as possible by keeping it both safe and clean.
