CBS call to ditch paper cups as part of TY eco project
A Transition Year (TY) team of students from CBS Charleville is involved in a Young Social Innovators Project called ‘Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print’ as part of the TY Young Social Innovators ( YSI) programme 2017.
The YSI programme for senior cycle students is a youth led, team based, action focused programme that enables young people to look at social issues they care about and take positive action to make a difference. Working in teams, social innovators are challenged to identify a social issue affecting them, their communities or wider society and to come up with and implement creative solutions. Each year thousands of young people through Ireland tackle issues such as health, equality, poverty, safety and the environment.
The Charleville CBS students project ‘Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print’ (DYCCP) week is an environmental project, the main aim of which is to reduce carbon emissions (CO2) locally and nationally by encouraging people to bring their own reusable cup and ditch the disposable paper cup when getting a takeout beverage in food outlets and garages throughout the country.
To kick-start the idea the students will organise a ‘Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print’ in Charleville later on this year. It is hoped that in the designated week people will get a discount for bringing their own reusable cup when buying a take-out beverage in shops or garages in the town.
To ensure the success of the designated DYCCP the students sought the help, support and advice of Charleville Chamber, which was forthcoming from Chamber President P. J. McCarthy and administrator Sean Fitzgibbon, who offered invaluable advice and encouragement to the students. The Chamber will mentor the students in this endeavour and lend its support to the project.
The students described their meeting with the Chamber as, educational, insightful and a good learning curve, and their confidence in the project had been boosted.
The students intend to conduct a survey in the town before and during the designated DYCCP week to collect relevant data for their project. This will address people’s attitude to the environment, CO2 emissions, the use of disposable paper cups versus the use of a reusable cup and the environmental cost to the planet.
In the course of their research to date the students have formed links with like-minded people involved in similar projects in countries such as the USA, Norway and Sweden. One of the perceived problems of using one’s own reusable cup for a take-out beverage is the inconvenience of the standard reusable cups available. The team is currently researching the availability/design of a collapsible, compact, totally sealed recyclable cup.
This has led them to people in the US who have designed a reusable, collapsible, which is extremely convenient when on the move. The students hope that such a cup or similar will be available in Charleville during the designated DYCCP week.
The student’s work is ongoing and they would appreciate the support of the local people in ensuring that their project is successful. People may assist by participating in the survey and by taking a reusable cup to their usual food outlet during the designated DYCCP week in Charleville. The date of this week will be announced shortly.
Details, news and updates on the project are available on the school website, Charleville cbs.com or on their twitter account, @DitchYourCCPThe students would welcome comments, ideas and suggestions. Please contact DitchYourCarbonCupDYCC@gmail.com.