The Big Plastic Count, will run next next week from 11th-17th March. Pupils in year 7 and 8 will be taking part and will be handed a paper copy of the tally sheet this week in Geography classes.
This campaign is part of our school biodiversity and sustainability action plan and supports our mission to become an eco-school. Pupils will be taught about how this campaign is an important contribution towards meeting UN sustainable development goals, as we raise awareness about the importance of environmental protection.
Tally totals will be compiled by the school Eco Club and results submitted to Greenpeace. Greenpeace will then send evidence to the Government, to fight plastic pollution and raise the profile of environmental protection at a national level.
HOW TO TAKE PART
It’s easy! From Monday morning until Sunday evening, count as you throw!
Simply mark every piece of plastic package as you throw it away on the Let’s Count Tally Sheet. All pupils in years 7 & 8 will receive a paper copy in their Geography lessons this week.
TOP TIPS
Put the Let’s Count Tally Sheet up on your fridge, or near your bin or recycling.
Tell everyone you live with that you’re going to be taking part and ask them to include their plastic waste in the count too.
Using the Let’s Count Tally Sheet, record the different types of household plastic packaging waste you use for one week. This includes plastic going in your bin and plastic you put out for recycling.
Use the Plastic ID Tool to look up plastic items if you need to.
Remember to write down any piece of plastic packaging you use while out and about, then mark it on your tally sheet when you get back home.
WHAT NOT TO COUNT
Don’t include: plasters, medication packaging, non-dairy milk/juice cartons, nappies, dog poo bags, plastic cutlery or period products.
We don't want to include plastic items that are used for medical or sanitary reasons, or by people with disabilities who rely on plastic items for independence.
Also, we are not counting coffee cups or Tetra Pak, the plasticised cardboard material that many juice/milk cartons are made of.
Check out the Plastic ID Tool online to familiarise yourself with the kinds of plastics we’re counting up for this survey.
Once your household has completed the survey, your child will bring the tally sheet to form where it will be collected by an Eco Club member. Tally totals will be compiled by eco club and results submitted to Greenpeace. Greenpeace will then send evidence to the Government, to fight plastic pollution and raise the profile of environmental protection at a national level.
We’d like to say a huge thank you for taking part in this important investigation!
Together, we can build even more evidence about what really happens to our plastic.
To find out more information, please see the letter and slideshow below.
The Big Plastic Count
