By Jeanie Groh

jeanie.groh@salisburypost.com

A.L. Brown’s Environmental Club wanted to do something unique to commemorate Earth Day this year, so they decided to go a day without plastic.

“This is the first time – in at least a long time – that we’ve done something like this,” said Trent Wharton, earth science teacher and Environmental Club advisor.

Involvement wasn’t limited to the Environmental Club, however. Wharton said roughly 200 students and teachers signed up to participate in the event.

On average, a person disposes of 4.5 pounds of plastic trash each day – one and a half pounds of that is recycled and the rest goes to the landfill.

In one day, Wharton said they expect to keep 2-300 pounds of plastic from going to the dump.

The concept of having a day without plastic has started a conversation with his students, Wharton said.

The students have asked which plastics are good plastics and which ones are bad, and how to cut down on the plastics they use in their day-to-day lives.

A bad plastic is “when it makes its way from your hand to the landfill,” Wharton said.

He’s given students ideas about how to cut back on the plastics they use.

For example, if they buy a bottle of soda, reusing that bottle as a water bottle after the fact cuts down on waste, as well as using a reusable container instead of a plastic bag for a sandwich at lunch.

“Every time they use a new product, there’s new waste,” he said, adding that he hopes the day will make them more aware of reusing materials.

“I’ve never gone a day without using plastic,” said Roxanna Soto, a ninth grader at A.L. Brown.

She said she was drawn to the event because she liked the challenge of navigating through her regular activities without plastic.

The main difference for Soto was giving up her plastic water bottle.

She said the challenge will make her more aware of what she’s using in the future.

It’s been inspiring to see students, including those who aren’t members of the Environmental Club, step up and want to be involved, Wharton said.

During the students’ lunch, Soil and Water Conservation, Morrow Mountain State Park, Carolina Thread Trail and other organizations came to the school to meet with students and talk about the environment. Greenpeace is bringing its solar powered bus on Friday.

A.L. Brown’s Environmental Club also sold silicone wristbands and tee shirts as an Earth Day fundraiser.

“We’re hoping this will catch on and become a trend,” Wharton said. “You don’t have to save the whole planet, just save your part of it.”