Making green by going green

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Photo by: Rhiannan Ruef

Naturally Green members make posters to publicize their e-waste recycling event to be held this Saturday.

Naturally Green will be collecting and recycling various types of e-waste in the Cam High parking lot on Saturday, November 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, as part of their efforts to foster awareness for the environment, locally and globally.

E-waste, short for electronic waste, refers to any old, useless, or discarded appliances that utilize electricity. This includes computers, consumer electronics, fridges, and many other devices that are generally thrown away after being replaced by newer versions.

“We want to involve the community in the spirit of our motto, ‘reduce, reuse, recreate,’ which is a spin off of the famous recycling motto,” said Mrs. Tawney Safran, social science teacher and Naturally Green adviser.

Most of the profits from the event will go towards All Green, a company that organizes the waste and takes it to a facility for the actual physical recycling process. Additionally, a small percent will also go towards causes approved by the Naturally Green club’s members, such as campus beautification.

“We collect names of organizations that do various environmental things, and the club votes on how much money to give them,” said Mike Alcozar, senior and Naturally Green club president. “Some of the money might go towards planting trees or flowers on campus.”

Aside from the monetary gain involved, Naturally Green club members also emphasized the environmental significance underlying an act as simple as properly disposing electronic trash.

“We need the world to be healthy,” said Alcozar. “Being in nature is fun and enjoyable and free, and it would be a shame to see that all go because of things that [humankind] did.”

Currently, only 12.5% of e-waste is recycled, according to dosomething.org. Electronic products that are discarded in landfills or incinerators can release certain harmful toxins into the air.

“We are a nation of consumers, especially the high school generation, and e-waste is becoming an increasing problem,” said Safran.