Environmental Issues
By TY’HANA ALDRIDGE | Features | Aug. 31, 2020
The amount of waste affecting the environment has increased greatly through the years, with little effort placed on stopping the growing problem. With the continuous appearance of wasteful consumerism, the harmful effects it creates on people and the environment could become worse. Students at Stanton College Preparatory School have the opportunity to make a positive effect on the environment through their involvement in some clubs, classes, and their own personal lifestyles.
photo from Google Images
“If [wasteful consumerism] isn’t addressed, it leads to not only impacting the people at our school, but everything around us,” said senior Ann Sia, president of Artistree, a club at Stanton striving to spread knowledge of the environment through campus clean-ups and hands-on projects. “It’s all about being mindful of everything going on around us.”
Wasteful consumerism involves the amount of waste consumers are producing through the desire of unnecessary goods.This can include building bigger houses or ordering huge portions of foods at restaurants. As of 2004, National Geographic concluded that 1.7 billion people worldwide belong to the “consumer class”— the group of people who buy goods and services to supply their basic needs and wants for non-essential goods. While students are included in this demographic by purchasing goods regularly, everyone can be part of this growing problem occurring on land and in waters.
“Poorly managed waste is contaminating the world’s oceans, clogging drains and causing flooding, transmitting diseases, increasing respiratory problems from burning, harming animals that consume waste unknowingly, and affecting economic development,” said Sameh Wabah, World Bank Director for Urban and Territorial Development, Disaster Risk Management and Resilience, according to World Bank.
With the ongoing production of these dispensable products, the amount of waste produced grows each year, creating harmful conditions for the environment. The world produces 1.3 billion tons of waste every year, with this number expected to be 2.2 billion by the year 2025. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the individual person produces 1,606 lb of trash per year with only some of this trash being placed in landfills that generate gases infused with methane, ultimately contributing to global warming. According to EPA, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) Bryan Staley estimates the U.S. has 62 years available in landfills before they run out of capacity. At this rate, the possibility of air pollution in the world alone will increase dramatically. As the school year progresses, the uncertainty of how safe the environment can affect students’ plans for the future.
“No one recycles and it causes pollution and has companies create more waste products,” said junior Chloe Abadi. “[Products] aren’t being recycled, encouraging global warming. We’re in the heat in Jacksonville and it gets worse every year.”
The Jacksonville community is experiencing more than just heat increases from the national problem. In the Riverside Five Points area, trash discarded on the side of the streets and overflowing garbage cans can be seen near local businesses. Those in the area also reported environmental concerns to News4Jax about the rain carrying garbage into the drains that lead out to the St. Johns River. In 2019, it was reported by News4Jax that sewage sludge, a human waste byproduct, was polluting the water in the river creating detrimental effects for the marine animals and those who swim in the river. Currently, a petition created by the St. Johns Riverkeeper is up to ban the dumping of sewage sludge in the river, as it harms locals and businesses exposed to the toxic algae blooms.
To help resolve this issue in the community, students and staff have options towards how they can remain engaged and involved. Stanton offers classes, like Environmental Science, and clubs such as Artistree; both strive to educate its members on the importance of being mindful of the environment through art projects and community clean-ups while gaining volunteer hours. Artistree participates in city clean-ups and reuse items when making projects to avoid waste build up.
photo from Google Images
“What Artistree’s trying to do is bring attention to these issues that will eventually destroy the earth,” said Sia. “I think it’s about educating our members about what we can do to help the environment and to be mindful about the world around us.”
Local and worldwide organizations including North Florida Land Trust Inc., Saint Johns Riverkeeper Inc., Sierra Club Foundation, and Deep Green Resistance (DGR) are available for people to clean and save the environment. DGR focuses on stopping industrial civilization from destroying the earth. Susan Breen, DGR’s Regional Organizing Coordinator, explained the group pushes to find ways to respect all aspects of life.
“We need to find new ways of living or else the planet isn’t going to survive,” said Breen. “[Consumers should] be aware how much of a [ecological] footprint the products they buy leave behind.” Breen also mentioned recycling alone is not enough to stop the increase of consumer waste.
However, as the pandemic continues to progress, alternatives to avoid waste such as recycling have been difficult for consumers to stay aware of. Thrifting or reusing items opens the risk of being exposed to the virus. Republic Services, a U.S. waste management company, reported residential waste volumes have increased 30% after the start of nationwide lockdowns. With the limitation for what can be recycled, what is now being called “COVID-waste” is starting to appear in oceans. Disposable masks and latex gloves started appearing in French waters in June 2020 and are expected to appear in U.S. waters as well.
“When I’m traveling around Jacksonville, there will be litter everywhere,” said senior Miniya Mcnair. “During the pandemic, I’ve noticed an increase in this with the masks. People are careless about how these products will harm the environment.”
To help stop the increase of consumer waste in Stanton’s community, students can do little things from picking up trash while walking down the street to going to beaches and participating in trash clean-ups. With the new school year approaching, students can buy school supplies with minimal packaging, buying in bulk, and maintaining the supplies that are bought to avoid more waste landing in landfills. It is important to spread the problem while holding others responsible for their actions to keep the community at Stanton healthy and clean.