The Action

The project team wanted to cut down on plastic usage by reducing, re-using and re-cycling. They contacted the Plastic Pollution Coalition to find out how their school could become the first plastic-free school in Ireland.

They taught classes about the issue, held an awareness day, labelled bins to help recycling, collected and recycled hundreds of plastic bottles whilst providing re-usable plastic bottles to students. They also worked with local businesses to raise awareness and worked with teachers to create lesson plans about plastic usage. The team also lobbied Wexford County Council to place recycling bins beside normal refuse bins throughout the town, and held a display in New Ross Credit Union, again promoting awareness. Nationally, the team started a petition to introduce an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bags in supermarkets. 

The Impact

By raising awareness of the issue of plastic consumption and promoting recycling, the team at St Mary’s Secondary School has greatly reduced the usage of plastic at the school. The team members plan to continue to campaign and are determined to introduce an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bags in supermarkets nationwide. They also plan to create educational packs to distribute to schools to raise awareness about this important issue.