CHS has many recycling programs

To the editor:

My congratulations to Ali Herzog for looking for ways to reduce waste in the Central High School cafeteria and better care for our world. Yes, there are areas in our school where we could better use our resources and lessen our waste. We do, however, have some excellent programs that promote "reduce, reuse and recycle."

Our special services department collects recyclable materials from throughout the school every Wednesday, which the city picks up. Teachers are encouraged to place boxes in their classrooms so that paper, plastics, cardboard and other materials can be recycled. The two computer labs in the library use only recycled paper in printers, paper that has been printed on one side but is no longer used. All teachers in the school accept student work on this paper. Old newspapers and magazines are given away to students and staff for reading or using for class projects. A book giveaway was recently held, and students were able to start their own home libraries with books that were no longer needed in the school library catalog. Some of those books will be used for the Altered Book contest, a new and popular method of reusing something that might have been thrown away. Green tips are given weekly on the school announcements, and several activities took place on Earth Day.

There's always room for improvement, but you can be proud of the efforts made by Central students and staff. They are reducing, reusing and recycling.

PAULA REEVES, Central High School Library, Cape Girardeau