IS TRASH FLYING OUT OF HAND AT CCA?

Trash. You produce it, your family produces it. Everything produces trash, and it ends up everywhere, in the oceans, in the rivers, next to houses, and in playgrounds.But CCA's parking lot is covered in cigarette vapes, pizza boxes, full containers of take out, and condoms. 

It is sad to see students don't respect the school. There are about 220 trash cans in CCA as of November 7th. The janitors shouldn't have to worry about picking up an open bag of fruit or wrappers of a sandwich that could have been picked up in seconds. I’ve seen people spill full cartons of milk on a lunch table and completely ignore it and make the janitors clean up after them, or when people open a ranch packet and spray it on the table. Many people said that they don’t litter, or that they have to clean up after others. I have many friends that have picked up fallen carrots and serving boats that you get with your Pizza. Many people that would like to remain anonymous said that they are worried about trash getting stuck in their tires or picking something up that could harm their car. Kalli York said, “It's normally left a mess, whether that be people accidentally dropping things or trash flying out of cars, or just people not wanting to walk to a trash can and deciding that the parking lot is a good place for their wrapper.” 

EMPTY FOOD TRAY LEFT ON THE FLOOR AFTER LUNCH; PHOTO BY LILI NANDELL

Lili Nandell Junior, told me that Environmental club is trying to organize a clean-up of the Middle and High school parking lot, and that they have done about 11 parking lot clean ups from 2022 to 2024. Many suggestions that I read on my form is that we need more trash cans outside, Ms. Berlin said that she wished that we had more trash cans, and also that after a windy day, the grassy areas collect trash. Ryan Weber, sophomore, said to me that he feels that it's bad that the parking lot has so much trash. Aurora Mach, senior, said “No, I always pick up after myself and even others,” to my question of have you ever personally littered in the parking lot. MJ Hosler who is also a senior said this to the same question, ‘No, I try to hold onto my stuff to wait and throw it away in a trash can.” 

Many people say that people just need to be more considerate about where they leave their trash, and not just in CCA but everywhere. To a point the students are an extension of Clear Creek Amana High School, and when someone wears a shirt that says “property of clipper band” or “Clear Creek Amana golf”, says to strangers how we act as students.