A Halton primary school is taking steps to look after their world and drastically reduce consumption of single use plastic.
Lunt’s Heath School Council realised plastic pollution is damaging our oceans and hurting the environment, as it is not naturally bio-degradable material.
Staff are now empowering the children to act on their beliefs and spread the word.
The pupils’ ‘Single Use of Plastic’ campaign was based on the evidence from Gary and Sam Bencheghib who paddled through pollution along the Citarum River, one of the world’s most polluted rivers, on a kayak made from plastic waste.
They created a film from their expedition and got the attention of the Ministry of the Environment of Indonesia. A short time after their film was shared on social media the government announced a two year plan to clean up the river.
After sharing the video with The School Council, pupils decided on a self -driven project to inform and educate the school children and local community of the damage disposable plastic is causing.
Head Andrew Williams said: “During a meeting to launch a pledge to change the way in which people think about using single use plastic at school, the School Council has shared their passion to schools across Halton, inviting them to join in with this pledge.
“Children have also joined up with another local school,Farnworth CofE to encourage them to act with us on this important issue.
“After visiting Farnworth, our children were delighted when Farnworth School signed up to join us on this campaign. Below is the pledge Lunt’s Heath School Council have devised and agreed.”
Lunt’s Heath Primary School pledged to take action together by:
“Informing and educating our school and local community of the damage disposable plastic is causing, encouraging our family and friends to make lifestyle changes that reduce their consumption of single use plastic.
By auditing use of single use plastic in school, reduce its consumption by 50% in Year 1 with a view to removing it entirely by the end of Year 2.
“Undertaking a full audit of the school’s plastic consumption with a view to making sustainable replacements where possible
We promise to share plastic pollution solutions with our community.”
The project was launched by Halton Borough Counci’s Mayor Cllr John Bradshaw on Thursday.
Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Children, Young People and Families, Cllr Tom McInerney, said: “It’s great that young people care so much about the environment. Let’s hope others follow their lead.”
Sky recently pledged to remove all single-use plastics from its operations, products and supply chain by 2020 in a major package of measures announced at its recent ‘Our Ocean’ conference in Malta, one of several high profile firms to make such a promise.
A total ban on plastic cotton buds, straws and drink stirrers was recently announced by Prime Minister Theresa May after campaigns from among others The United Nations and The Daily Mail.
Declaring war on the throwaway culture, she unveiled measures to protect the oceans.
‘We are clogging up one of the earth’s greatest natural resources with harmful plastic and – for the sake of this and future generations – we must take action now,’ she said.