Environmental Health was the last topic for LMC students enrolled in BIOSC-005 this semester. For their final lab assignments, students set out to examine how often recyclable plastic water bottles are ending up in the trashcans on campus.
“Students need to understand this problem,” said professor of biology Sharon Wellbrook. “It’s horrific the amount of plastic out there.”
Having designed the current curriculum for students enrolled in BIOSC-005, Wellbrook was inspired by fellow biology professor Ron Gallin and his own views towards recycling when formulating the lab assignments for this semester.
“He single handedly walks around campus and takes them out of the garbage can,” Wellbrook added, “he was my inspiration.”
Stressing on the importance and the benefits from properly disposing of our waste, Professor Gallin offers his own opinions towards the recycling practices at LMC.
“It’s annoying,” said Professor Ron Gallin as he described to his class the amount of improperly discarded items he has personally viewed in trash bins. “There’s recycling bins all over campus.”
And he is right.
Located throughout LMC, green recycling containers are properly labeled for each corresponding item and in some cases are located directly next to a trashcan.
So how much is being thrown away?
“There’s a lot of stuff that’s ending up in the trash,” said Biology Professor Steve Waters.
Waters, whose own biology students partook in the assignment, stated that one problem area on campus that shows the most lack of recycling is the Weight Room as evidenced by one student returning with three full sized garbage bags filled with water bottles he found in the trash cans.
Overall, in just one class session with his students, they managed to collect ten full garbage bags of recyclable items that were improperly disposed of.
“Have we cleaned it up?” Waters asked. “I don’t know the answer to that.”
Although some students came unprepared to sort through garbage, wearing nice clothing or failing to remember the lab was to take place, many students were able to see how recycling practices on campus are.
“I expected there to be more,” said student Beatriz Hernandez, surprised by the amount of bottles she had found, including one of many alcohol bottles discovered by students.
As the students of BIOSC-005 conclude their semester, they now have a better understanding of the benefits of recycling and how the habits of even a small portion of society such as the LMC community can have a positive impact. “It really helps the environment,” said Hernandez.
With many students taking place in this final assignment, each going out at different times to collect their recyclables, Professor Wellbrook offers one piece of advice in hopes that the future recycling practices on campus will change.
“If we all do just one little thing,” she said, “it will really make a difference.”