The Columbus School is implementing innovative strategies to ensure environmental sustainability, inspiring students and staff to actively participate in protecting the planet.

From a very strong recycling system to solar panels atop its building of art, TCS is leading the charge with sustainability. This includes promoting and practicing waste reduction, enhancing recycling, and educating students regarding environmental responsibility over the last three years.

“So the school does have a very robust solar panel system. The solar panel system is located on top of the art building. This panel system has proven to be very effective, not only sustainably, but also financially, and so students must understand that the school is making a big effort in terms of sustainability.” Santiago Lopez, Student Body President, said. 

While infrastructural improvements, such as solar panels, set the foundation, the management of waste and recycling remains crucial for long-term sustainability.

“So I think our school recycling system is very efficient,” Lopez said. 

However, the voyage towards a greener campus not only deals with systems, but it also involves an individual commitment to proper practices of waste.

“So I think an important part of making our school more sustainable is people becoming more conscious of the waste that we make. And so how we can reduce that waste to a degree, like in the cafeteria, in our day-to-day, when we’re throwing things in the trash can, because we have a system that, if used properly, is gonna be very effective in terms of sustainability.”  Lopez said. 

The school’s efforts are far-reaching beyond immediate practices by using education and outreach to generate environmental awareness and responsibility among younger students.

 “And what I appreciated from that initiative was that they worked with younger students to try to build that education from an early age.”David Murphy, Global Sustainability teacher, said

While there are still challenges motivating people to actively sort the garbage and recycle-things remain at an optimistic pace, with the refinement of programs and committed support at this school.

“So the Gin Club for some reason or another was terminated, but we currently have something called the Sustainability Club led by Ms. Brook Wittleder, and it currently operates in high school, and we do have some very compromised students that are really willing to help.” – Lopez said. 

 With these initiatives, The Columbus School works toward balancing systemic sustainability with personal commitment from its community.

“We’ve had projects in the past that have worked on initiatives within the school, in order to improve recycling, but ultimately it’s a very difficult task when individuals don’t feel concerned or interested in separating their recycling from organic from their trash. So it’s a difficult motivation.” Murphy said.