Children should be taught about single-use plastics says campaign
TEACHERS SHOULD make the issue of single-use plastics part of the curriculum as children are “passionate” about looking after the planet, campaigners have urged.
Youngsters want to be informed about and are interested in the environmental impacts of single-use plastics, according to results from a pilot project with groups of pupils conducted by Keep Britain Tidy and water filter company BRITA UK.
Children were asked to keep plastic diaries to see how much they and their families used, followed by workshops with films, quizzes and games to help pupils understand more about the problem and come up with their own solutions.
Youngsters came up with creative ideas, from “plastic-o-meters” counting the volume of single-use plastics consumed each month to straw holders to attach to bags and encourage people to use reusable options.
Stickers on plastic packaging in supermarkets, arrows towards safe drinking water taps, and a points system encouraging people to choose reusable bags were among the other ideas children came up with.
A report on the project recommends similar activities should be undertaken by teachers around the UK. Teachers should “start a conversation about single-use plastics with pupils”, antilitter campaign Keep Britain Tidy urged.
Allison Ogden-Newton, the chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “What we found is that Britain’s schoolchildren really are interested in looking after our planet and passionate about doing so.
“Their ideas were inventive and we heard some great questions being asked in the workshops.
““It’s critical they get to have a say – it’s their future we’re talking about. So if they have the opportunity, it would be great to see teachers start a conversation about single-use plastics with pupils.
“There’s no question we can all benefit from creative new ideas.”