Background

As part of their semester project, Mrs. Thompson's Environmental Science class conducted a comprehensive audit of single-use plastic waste generated on campus during a typical school week.

Data Collection

Student researchers placed labeled collection bins at 12 locations across campus and cataloged every item by type, brand, and location. In total, they documented 3,247 individual plastic items over five school days.

Results

The cafeteria accounted for 62% of all plastic waste, with water bottles and snack wrappers being the most common items. The vending machines contributed another 18%. Surprisingly, the science labs — often thought of as heavy plastic users — contributed only 4% of total waste.

Recommendations

Based on their findings, the class has proposed three initiatives: installing water bottle refill stations, negotiating with vendors for recyclable packaging, and launching a student-led composting program for the cafeteria.