Environmental causes need to be taken seriously

Arianna Peper Contributing Writer

It is easy to think one person can’t make a big difference when it comes to the environment. However, contributing in small ways can make a difference.

In 1972, the United Nations held the first conference that made environmental issues widely known.

Today, the planet is still not in the best position because of the ozone layer being damaged, air pollution and a constant amount of garbage being disposed of in wildlife and oceans.

Though climate change is connected to many causes, such as generating power, oil drilling, and consuming too many natural resources, it can also be related to people’s daily choices.

One issue at Webster is that there are no recycling or compost bins easily available in the cafeteria. This results in students only being able to throw away all of their items, therefore contributing to waste disposal.

According to National Geographic, the world generates around 3.5 million tons of plastic and other solid waste daily, which shows how important it is for people to make small changes to their daily activities.

One small way to contribute to the cause of lowering the waste disposal rate is WGHS including compost and recycling bins in the cafeteria and courtyard, making them more accessible to students.

Currently, the Environmental Club has received a grant from the Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association and is planning to grow native plants in a garden at the school, but even with that being done, sponsor Elizabeth Hobbs said there absolutely needs to be more done for the environment.

Hobbs said students can make more environmentally friendly choices by trying not to consume in the first place. This means that instead of buying plastic water bottles, they should invest in reusable ones and focus on purchasing items ethically from the USA rather than overseas.

Clothing is also a large part of waste contributing to landfills. The manufacturing process wastes a lot of water.

According to “The Fashion Law” and “The 71 Percent,” it takes around 1,800 gallons of water to grow the cotton required to make just one pair of blue jeans.

Rather than throwing away old jeans or clothes, Hobbs said students can donate or sell them. She mentioned how students should focus on being okay with purchasing used clothes to be more environmentally friendly.

Hobbs said, “I think that climate change is overwhelming, but small changes do make a difference. It’s like one large rug and if everyone pulls a thread, eventually it will come undone.”