Mr. Miller, the school’s beloved Can Man, has retired. The announcement disappointed students, as many had come to rely on his recycling bag. His project ran for almost an entire year, starting in January of 2025 and ending on Oct. 15.
Below are Miller’s answers to a few questions about his time and legacy as the Can Man.
Q: What inspired you to start this Can Man project?
A: Last year, I had lunch duty for the first time in 20 years of teaching. And while there, it was second semester lunch duty. I was honestly bored, and I was watching kids throw out cans, and I kept thinking, that’s something that can be recycled. So to stave off my boredom, I grabbed my garbage bag one day and walked around and said, “Yeah, I’ll take those cans.”
Q: What did you do with the cans?
A: My first batch, that first day, I put them in my recycling bin at home, and then, as I got more, Mr. Verstoppen (the school custodian) mentioned that he knew a place that paid for cans. So I turned them in for money. Once my bags were full, I would take them up to Johnny Junk.
Q: How much money did you make from them?
A: From last year, February till this past trip, I made $514. I still have one set of cans at home, so it will probably total to about $550.
Q: What did you learn or discover from this project?
A: I learned that awareness and perseverance is key, (in order) to get to the point where we are now. … I learned that it is tiring, so you got to commit to it, and I learned a lot of people don’t consider where their refuse or garbage goes.
Q: What is the main reason you decided to give this up?
A: The main reason is, I have a different schedule this year, and I was limited to trying to collect. But (my lunch duty) was going to come to an end. I don’t have a seventh hour prep, so I was limited to trying to run around after school.
Q: How can the students of DPHS continue your mission?
A: Well, we can organize. I mean, it’s a commitment. Access is hard, so getting into classrooms can be difficult. But I didn’t ask any permission. I just grabbed the bag and started collecting. I think it always feels like you have to go through official routes. That’s not the case: Just do something.
Q: Do you have a message for our readers?
A: As students, they definitely have a lot of power. Students have quite a voice. They are first and foremost what everyone’s here for. So if students raise that, they’ll be listened to.
