I'm annoyed by the school's trash can situation

[DevaMajka]

Should I write a letter? (I know, I seem to be annoyed by silly little things. lol)

The school has 2 indoor trash cans, and one outdoor trash can. Apparently, the Kindy/1st grade split room recently got a trash can because they had to walk to the trash can way too much. No other class rooms have trash cans- there is one trash can for each "pod" of classrooms (they share a common lobby area). There aren't any trash cans in the bathrooms, other than the menstrual product containers in the stalls.

The trash can outside is a distance away from the playground. The problem there is that the kids don't leave the playground to go to the trash can, so there is trash all over the playground. Apple cores, yogurt containers, little plastic wrappers, saran wrap. It looks bad, and makes it difficult to keep ds2 (16mos) from eating trash The other day, there was a sandwich wrapped in saran wrap, then foil, in the middle of the walkway. A seagull swallowed the saran wrap. I don't know, but that doesn't sound healthy to me. lol.
THIS is what I want to write a letter about. Would it kill them to have the trash can closer to the playground? Don't most schools have trash cans right up against the school building?

They say their reasoning is to be more green. They discourage parents from sending lunches with any trash in them. They encourage reusable containers, and send home a letter once saying something about apples and bananas being good foods (they must have forgotten about the cores and peels. lol) They have discouraged sending too many recyclable products, and request that any trash sent to school, make it's way back home. (I personally think their motivation has more to do with lowering trash take-out/pick up costs, but whatev).
I will admit that there isn't much trash in the outside trash can (the only one I've looked in), so I guess their plan is working somewhat. But they have so much trash on the playground, that it seems silly that they haven't moved the can yet!

[nanette0269]

if there is room in the outside trash can, why are the kids not picking up after themselves? isnt that the real issue? they should not be allowed to leave their space (whether it be their desk or the cafeteria or the playground) with it looking like that. The trash surrounding the playground is absolutely disgusting in my opinion then, knowing that some kids are simply too small to realize that they should not be picking up garbage.

maybe they simply have to be reminded to teach the kids common sense in dealing with their own trash?

[happysmileylady]

that would really irritate me too.

I am going to call shenanigans on their "trying to be green" excuse. Because even being green generates trash. If they really wanted to be "green" they would have a compost bin for that organic trash, and recycle bins for the stuff like paper and such.

The classrooms don't even have wastebaskets? And there are no trash cans in the bathrooms, I assume they have hand dryers?

[ollyoxenfree]

I suspect that the real reasoning is cuts to the school's operational budget. It translates directly to cuts in janitorial staff, since it's easier to cut staff than things like energy costs for heating and lights and still have an effect on the bottom line.

With fewer janitors, there's just no ability to have someone empty trash bins from every classroom, hallway, bathroom and all outdoor areas, every day. So the school has tried to consolidate trash collection.

A lot of public schools are operating with far fewer janitorial staff than even a few years ago. Yet public safety standards have increased enormously and older schools have lots of crumbling maintenance issues. So they are required to mop up hallways immediately on rainy days, ensure walkways are clear of snow and ice after every dusting of snow, sweep up the lunchroom and wipe down tables as soon as lunch is finished, and all sorts of other daily tasks that take time but must be completed with less help.

[ollyoxenfree]

I also agree that the children themselves should be dealing with their trash appropriately. That means litterless lunches and snacks in the first place, and disposing of garbage in bins even if they have to walk a little to get to one.

Perhaps the school should enact a regular trash pick-up as part of their activities. I've always admired the Japanese expectation that students clean their own classrooms, tidying up, wiping desks, mopping floors etc. I doubt it could ever work in North America where there's such a strong sense of entitlement and independence rooted in the culture. I've seen it happen in Montessori pre-schools, where children routinely wipe up their tables after snack and sweep up the floor as part of "Practical Life" activities, so I know it's possible. I can just imagine the outrage from parents if their children were expected to take on cleaning tasks as part of their everyday school routine though.

[delphine]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

I also agree that the children themselves should be dealing with their trash appropriately. That means litterless lunches and snacks in the first place, and disposing of garbage in bins even if they have to walk a little to get to one.

Perhaps the school should enact a regular trash pick-up as part of their activities. I've always admired the Japanese expectation that students clean their own classrooms, tidying up, wiping desks, mopping floors etc. I doubt it could ever work in North America where there's such a strong sense of entitlement and independence rooted in the culture. I've seen it happen in Montessori pre-schools, where children routinely wipe up their tables after snack and sweep up the floor as part of "Practical Life" activities, so I know it's possible. I can just imagine the outrage from parents if their children were expected to take on cleaning tasks as part of their everyday school routine though.

My kids go to a private school here in the U.S. and they are absolutely expected to take on cleaning tasks. When I was a child, we also were required to clean, including mopping, cleaning the chalkboard, wiping desks etc. Currently, my children or their classmates have the responsibility of taking out trash, cleaning up after themselves and each class rotates responsibility of the cafeteria. I don't think parents would be outraged by the thought.


I think, in the OP's case, implementing policies that demonstrate to the children how to pick up trash and the responsibilities of cleaning up after oneself would be a good idea.

[sapphire_chan]

BS on the "green" claim. Every other place that "goes green" gets MORE trash cans. Generally whole sets of them, in high-traffic, easily accessed areas, glass, cans, paper, plastic, compost, and a tiny little can for "other".

And yeah, moving the trash can is a no-brainer.

May or may not make a huge difference though. (insert mild rant about cigarette butts by ashtrays here)

[mom2ponygirl]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

Perhaps the school should enact a regular trash pick-up as part of their activities. I've always admired the Japanese expectation that students clean their own classrooms, tidying up, wiping desks, mopping floors etc. I doubt it could ever work in North America where there's such a strong sense of entitlement and independence rooted in the culture. I've seen it happen in Montessori pre-schools, where children routinely wipe up their tables after snack and sweep up the floor as part of "Practical Life" activities, so I know it's possible. I can just imagine the outrage from parents if their children were expected to take on cleaning tasks as part of their everyday school routine though.

The charter high school my daughter attended last year has the students clean the school. Each week a different class that meets after lunch takes some time to clean bathrooms and common areas. Last period classes pick up in the rooms. The kids adapt to it very quickly and I never heard any complaints.

[ollyoxenfree]

It's great to hear about schools that are encouraging student's sense of responsibility and community by expecting them to help clean up. I guess I should have expected no less in the MDC community . I think my low expectations stem from the parents and commentators who complain if every task at school isn't somehow directly connected to straight A's in reading and math and don't want school time spent on anything else.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

It's great to hear about schools that are encouraging student's sense of responsibility and community by expecting them to help clean up. I guess I should have expected no less in the MDC community . I think my low expectations stem from the parents and commentators who complain if every task at school isn't somehow directly connected to straight A's in reading and math and don't want school time spent on anything else.

Oh, but picking up your trash will teach you responsibility, which will then of course lead to straight As in math an reading, right?!

[MJB]

I agree that they should get compost and recycling bins. Is there any way you could volunteer to organize such a project? My son's public school had compost and recycling last year (don't know about the school he goes to this year but I bet they recycle).

[DevaMajka]

You all are right, some responsibility rests on the kids. Some of the kids are quite young, and while they need to learn, it's understandable that they don't remember all the time. I also watched an older kid put his plastic bag on the ground in the playground, and he picked it up when he saw me look at it. Next time I looked, he was gone and the trash was on the ground.

Originally Posted by happysmileylady

that would really irritate me too.

I am going to call shenanigans on their "trying to be green" excuse. Because even being green generates trash. If they really wanted to be "green" they would have a compost bin for that organic trash, and recycle bins for the stuff like paper and such.

The classrooms don't even have wastebaskets? And there are no trash cans in the bathrooms, I assume they have hand dryers?

Yes, there are hand dryers, no paper towels. I went in to blow my nose, and there was nowhere to put the tissue other than the toilet or my pocket.
They *do* have recycling bins (recycling is huge here- parents would be upset for sure if the school wasn't recycling). I haven't seen any outside, though. I'll have to pay attention inside the school- I think they only have recycling in the two places they have trash cans.
eta- they do have recycling bins in each classroom, so good for them!

But, yeah, you're right on the shenanigans call. lol As far as I know, there is no compost bin (those are fairly common around here too, and you can get them at a greatly reduced rate from the city).

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

I suspect that the real reasoning is cuts to the school's operational budget. It translates directly to cuts in janitorial staff, since it's easier to cut staff than things like energy costs for heating and lights and still have an effect on the bottom line.

I think you are 100% right. Which is fine, I guess- it seems to be working for them. Except for the trash on the ground.

[cycle]

I agree that a lot of the trash issue lies with getting the kids to pick up after themselves, they should not be leaving trash around the playground. If they want to promote waste free lunches they need to give parents the info on how to do that, it can be done, I do it every day for ds. No plastic bags, no paper napkins, no disposable anything. Even his snacks are sent in reusable snack bags. If the school is asking for whatever trash that is generated from lunches or whatever is brought from home be taken back home, I really don't think thats such a bad request. If it saves them money on their trash or janitorial expenses great, I would rather that money go to programs or teachers salaries. Plus, if the trash goes back home and the parents have to deal with it maybe they will start making an effort to pack waste free lunches for their kids.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

Oh, but picking up your trash will teach you responsibility, which will then of course lead to straight As in math an reading, right?!

Personally, I think that whether it leads to straight As is beside the point. Teaching responsibility is a fine goal on its own . Learning to care for any place you spend part of your day or week is a good lesson to learn early on in life.