Our concern is the overuse of plastic bottles at Los Alamitos High School, which is detrimental to the environment.
After conducting thorough research, we have concluded that the harmful aspects of using plastic bottles far exceed their benefits.
While over 90% of the cost for bottled water is for the manufacturing, bottling, and plastic, Americans consume upwards of $1,400 worth a year, compared to the $0.49 cost for the same amount of tap water. Even with a mark up of 1,000 times in cost and the ecological damage it creates, 20% of Americans drink only bottled water.
Staying hydrated during school is essential to a student’s learning experience. Yet, harmful chemicals such as antimony can be found in plastic bottles, which has been found to cause dizziness and depression; these chemicals can hinder a student's performance at school. Because eight glasses of fluids are recommended per day, students usually bring an extra dollar to buy a water bottle at school. We need water, as it makes up sixty percent of our bodies, and about seventy percent of our brain, however this habit of buying water daily is doing more harm than good. In one lunch period at one of the four food carts on campus, over 45 plastic bottles were sold. This waste adds up. According to statistics, the average American will consume some 166 bottles of water per year, recycling less than 20% of them. With over 3,300 students at LAHS, there are approximately 580,000 bottles consumed, with 464,800 being just trashed. LAHS will contribute over 72,000 bottles to landfills annually. Plastic bottles take over 700 years to begin composting, by which time the environment will already have become overwhelmed. Single-use bottles take up more than 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce.
Because recycling bins are not placed around campus, recycling is difficult. One custodian spends much of his time everyday separating bottles from regular trash, though it is impossible for him to collect every water bottle, leaving many behind to be thrown away. "We do not have enough time or people to separate every plastic bottle from the amount of trash that is collected throughout the day," says Mr. Florez, a custodian at Los Alamitos High School.
Through surveys, students reported that 95% of them would be willing to try a more sustainable option than plastic bottles. In addition, Tamara Lundblad, a LAHS guidance counselor says, “I am always supportive of recycling and avoiding waste when possible.” According to May Vang, the district’s head of Fiscal Services, “The district is very interested in going green.”
Hydration Stations are an excellent solution to this problem and a great way to be more environmentally friendly. These stations provide an automated, handsfree and plastic free way to stay hydrated throughout the day. As the school decreases the sale of plastic bottles, these stations can keep kids hydrated and help the environment.
When we contacted the Hawsco Brita company, their quote was approximately $1,500 for filters, chillers, frames, and the drain. The stations would be strategically placed around campus to maximize their efficiency while minimizing their cost. Many other districts are taking the plunge into plastic-free environments, such as Oak Park School District, the University of Nevada, and the Aquarium of the Pacific’s “Wet” Side. After interviewing Shannon Penna, a founder of the Aquarium’s Green Team, we learned “The Green Team is devoted to assuring that Aquarium staff is instilled with the responsibility to recycle any cans or bottles that they use,” though Hydration Stations are available for staff. Pam Chang, a student in the Oak Park District said, “Especially the kids in the gym use them a lot.” Los Al prides itself on its sports teams and records. Hydration is extremely important to maintain, so adding Hydration Stations would surely be beneficial to Los Al’s athletes, as well as scholars and the environment.
After contacting Ondrea Reed of the Los Al Educational Foundation, we are working to get the community involved. Support and help from the community is essential to raising sufficient funds to implement Hydration Stations around campus. We plan to sell Los Al reusable bottles at the campus student store and use profits to help pay for the new stations.
After much research and analysis, we have come to the conclusion that reducing the number of plastic water bottles used at LAHS is quite feasible. The benefits for our environment and for our wallets far exceed the convenience of traditional plastic. With the implementation of Hydration Stations and recycling bins around campus, we would be able to make a significant change to the school’s impact on our environment.
