Young pupils set out to teach litter louts a lesson
SCHOOLCHILDREN are teaching litterbugs in Pyle, Kenfig Hill, Cornelly and Cefn Cribwr a lesson or two.
During the autumn term, pupils from six local schools will be spearheading a campaign which aims to encourage residents to bin their rubbish instead of dropping it.
In collaboration with Bridgend County Borough Council, Keep Wales Tidy, community councils and Sea Quest, the children will learn about the damaging effects of litter on their local environment by carrying out litter-picks in their communities.
The pupils will then design anti-litter posters and the winning designs and slogans will be displayed on streets around their schools.
Councillor Richard Young, the council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “Our Love It, Don’t Trash It initiative was really popular among Porthcawl schoolchildren earlier this year, where they designed a series of thought-provoking posters which really drum home the importance of people putting their litter in a bin.
“We need to make people realise that dropping litter has consequences for our environment.
“The children in Porthcawl showed a huge amount of determination and passion to clean up their town, so I’m excited that we’re extending the initiative into another community where I’m expecting equal levels of enthusiasm.”
Bridgend County Borough Council has been awarded £90,000 from Keep Wales Tidy to spread the anti-littering message locally over the next three years.
Cllr Young added: “It’s a shocking fact that half of the Welsh population admit to dropping litter. It’s an issue that affects us all, and here in
Bridgend County Borough we spend around £1.5m on picking up litter each year.
“Surely local taxpayers would rather help prevent litter in the first place, and spend money on other essential services instead?
“I am a firm believer that education is the best way to combat littering, so where better to start than in school, where children can be taught good habits from a young age and hopefully change the ways of any litterbugs in their families too?
“After introducing this initiative in six schools around Pyle, Kenfig Hill, Cornelly and Cefn Cribwr, we’ll also be rolling it out in other communities next year.
“There has already been a noticeable reduction in litter in Porthcawl in recent months, so we’re hoping that the initial impact of the campaign can be sustained and make a real difference.”