Environment: Pupils at two Fife schools aiming to go plastic free to help planet.

education: Secondary and primary phasing out single-use goods

Pupils at two Fife schools are being urged to pass on plastic in a bid to improve the environment.

Bell Baxter High in Cupar and Commercial Primary in Dunfermline are aiming to go plastic-free following publicity about the dangers discarded items have on oceans and wildlife.

Both schools have joined forces with local environmental groups to encourage their communities to follow their lead.

Youngsters have been asked to try to stop using single-use plastics, such as water bottles, in favour of sustainable alternatives.

At Bell Baxter, most pupils are now using refillable cups, while polystyrene packaging and plastic cutlery have been banished from the dinner hall and replaced with traditional China plates and silver cutlery.

Takeaway coffee cups are discouraged among staff and plastic straws are being replaced with paper ones, which can be recycled.

S6 pupil Cameron Drummond, chairman of the school’s eco committee, said they had signed up to the UN’s sustainable development goals and the Sky Ocean Rescue Campaign.

“We’ve tried to tie in all the work we’ve been doing this year to these goals,” he said.

“One of the biggest things is to get rid of all plastic water bottles.

“They are no longer on sale at Bell Baxter.”

The committee has been talking to S1 pupils about the issue during two eco days in school and a number of activities have been organised to hammer home the message.

Commercial Primary has joined the Plastic-Free Dunfermline community campaign and head teacher Gillian Mann said pupils were thrilled to be taking part.

“Our pupils, including our eco-group, are working hard to make us one of the first schools in Fife to have plastic-free status,” she said.

“Examples of our current work includes our pupils making contact with our milk provider to campaign for paper straws instead of plastic ones.

“At school events all parents are invited to bring their reusable travel mugs for teas and coffees.

“This is greatly reducing our need for single-use plastic cups.”

The schools’ efforts come as Fife Council investigates whether it is feasible for it to become plastic-free.

This week, the Scottish Parliament announced a ban on single-use coffee cups on its premises.

One of the biggest things is to get rid of all plastic water bottles. They are no longer on sale at Bell Baxter

Picture: Steven Brown. From left: Charlotte Mofa, Rida Ashiq, Marije De Vries and Cameron Drummond of Bell Baxter High School take part in their Pass on Plastic campaign.