This year, FHS launched an ambitious student-led recycling initiative aimed at addressing a problem many schools quietly face: tons of recyclable paper ending up in landfills simply because custodial staff lack the time to sort it.
The initiative, organized through FHS’s Climate Collective Club, mobilizes student volunteers to collect and recycle paper waste from every classroom wing during tutorials. A dedicated spreadsheet tracks volunteer hours, which students can use toward community service requirements at the semester’s end. Each wing operates under a student commissioner who oversees daily operations.
“The recycling initiative’s main goal is to use student volunteer work to recycle all of Fremont’s paper waste,” FHS senior Olaf Karwasiecki said. “Currently, custodians don’t have the bandwidth to recycle the paper, so it usually just gets thrown in the trash.”
Karwasiecki, who is in charge of the program, developed an interest in environmental solutions last year after presenting at the Climate Collective’s Earth Day event about using mushrooms to create biodegradable packing materials. Following the well-received presentation, district officials invited presenters to a thank-you meeting at the district office.
There, Karwasiecki met Kavita Gupta, the initiative’s district leader, who noted FHS’s lackluster participation compared to other schools in the district. Gupta encouraged him to apply as FHS’s site lead. After securing the position, Karwasiecki transformed a two-member team into a 32-person volunteer force that now services the entire campus.
The program operates through close coordination with FHS’s custodial staff, particularly Paulo Brasil. Under current arrangements, custodians leave paper waste in classrooms unless bins overflow, allowing volunteers to handle collection. Program leaders acknowledge that this system represents just the beginning of broader changes to FHS’s waste management approach.
However, the initiative faces significant challenges beyond logistics. Karwasiecki identifies a persistent stigma surrounding recycling on campus, with many students fearing ridicule from peers if seen participating in environmental activities.
“Unfortunately, there is a big stigma in the student body about how recycling isn’t viewed as ‘cool,’ so many students feel embarrassed or ashamed to recycle in fear of being ridiculed by their peers,” Karwasiecki said. “Our team works hard to try to break this stereotype and inspire our peers to recycle.”
Due to the early stages of the program, it presents additional obstacles. Without returning volunteers from previous years, organizers struggle to predict commitment levels and maintain consistent coverage across campus.
“Since this is a very new initiative, we don’t have any returning volunteers, so it’s difficult to gauge how consistent our volunteers will be,” Karwasiecki said. “Ultimately, our initiative runs all on volunteer work, so we must have a strong set of student volunteers.”
“Having this club really helps with keeping a cleaner campus,” FHS senior Anthony Lu said.
The program has secured strong institutional support. Four teachers — Julia Coe, Jeske Glenn, I-Heng McComb and Bob Capriles — serve on the faculty advisory team. Assistant principals Susan Rocha and Andy Walzak provide administrative backing, helping coordinate classroom access and staff communication about volunteer schedules.
“Our initiative could never run without the constant support of our staff team, which we are ever grateful,” Karwasiecki said.
The collaboration between students, teachers, administrators and custodial staff represents a model for addressing infrastructure gaps through grassroots organization. As FHS’s program continues expanding, organizers hope their growing volunteer corps will help shift campus culture around environmental responsibility.
