Kids’ charity Kids Against Plastic launch Nottinghamshire Challenge to help primary schools meet Government target on single-use plastic.
Kids Against Plastic, a youth-led educational charity supported by Geovation and Ordnance Survey, is launching a challenge to encourage primary schools in the Nottinghamshire area to eliminate non-essential single-use plastic.
In 2018 the government challenged schools across Great Britain to significantly reduce their use of convenience plastics by 2022. By that time, schools need to have stopped using single- use plastic items – cutlery, cups, straws etc. – and implement environmentally-friendly alternatives instead.
With that 2022 deadline approaching fast, and little action taken by Government to help schools reach the plastic target, Kids Against Plastic, founded by Amy and Ella, aged 17 and 15 from Arnold Nottingham, are encouraging and supporting as many primary schools as possible in their home county to achieve a ‘Plastic Clever’ status by December 2021 by taking part in the Plastic Clever Schools Nottinghamshire Challenge.
Co-founder Amy said: “We want to help raise awareness about the negative effects single-use plastics are having on the environment and provide a practical and pragmatic solution to help schools meet the target set by Damian Hinds MP in 2018. Targets are pointless if they are not met and problem plastics, along with other environmental issues, need to be addressed with urgency.”
To date, Kids Against Plastic have worked with over 1,000 schools and many cafes, businesses, and festivals to reduce their plastic usage. In 2019 Amy and Ella even helped make Gedling Borough Council Plastic Clever. The 2021 challenge is the next step, as Kids Against Plastic try to engage Nottinghamshire in an act of collective effort against single-use plastics.
What is ‘Plastic Clever?’
A school wanting to achieve the status of ‘Plastic Clever’ needs to be taking appropriate action to reduce the use of such single-use items, such as:
• Plastic cups and lids
• Plastic straws
• Plastic bottles
• Plastic bags
• Plastic cutlery and crockery
• Plus any other avoidable single-use plastics
Most single-use plastics are non-biodegradable and non-recyclable, meaning they do not naturally decompose and cannot be reused. Most are either destroyed, causing unnecessary waste, or deposited in landfills, often finding their way into the oceans. Reducing the use of these single-use plastics is an important criterion, not only in meeting government deadlines, but also in becoming more sustainable in general.
In order to help schools achieve the ‘Plastic Clever’ status, Kids Against Plastic will provide resources and support, including a web-based map of ‘live’ progress per local Borough / District as well as school by school as they progress through the levels of the Plastic Clever Schools: Nottingham Challenge.
The Challenge opens for registrations on the 7th of July (World Chocolate Day) and the first 50 schools that register will receive a small box of plastic clever, handmade chocolates for the lead teacher. Then, throughout September, October, and November 2021, schools can work through the Challenge levels, submitting specific evidence along the way to demonstrate their efforts in eliminating single-use plastic items. Kids Against Plastic has also listed prizes to be won (for both teachers and schools), to keep the participants motivated and keen.
All schools which manage to reduce their single-use plastics, and achieve a Plastic Clever status before the start of December 2021, will receive a celebration bundle. They’ll also be invited to a celebratory event for the chance to receive an award in recognition of their contribution to this important cause.
Amy said: “Our challenge for schools aims to help them reach the government targets set for them in an easier and more fun and engaging way for the teachers and students, while also helping them take steps towards becoming more environmentally friendly as a whole, which we believe is super important.”
“The last year has been tough for schools, but we’re hoping that our Challenge will be a way to bring the school community together behind a common goal here in Nottinghamshire, as well as making a positive difference through a reduction in single-use plastic.”
Founders Amy and Ella have released a ‘Be Plastic Clever’ book to help educate young people on important matters such as climate change and plastic pollution, and hopefully help them find their voice in fighting these issues. Amy has also featured on Blue Peter to help spread the Kids Against Plastic message and spoken in the United Nations HQ in Geneva.
Plastic Clever Schools is a positive step forwards in driving change, and the 2021 Nottinghamshire Challenge is a reusable blueprint; one that other counties can adopt and adapt once Nottinghamshire has trail-blazed the way.
The challenge itself is also ‘recyclable,’ with plans in 2022 to build on the first challenge with a ‘Plastic Clever+’ challenge for primary and secondary schools and youth groups. Making this a regular event will keep dedication up and helps further Nottinghamshire schools’ commitment to eliminating non- essential plastics.
More examples of Amy and Ella’s efforts can be found on the Kids Against Plastics website here: https://www.kidsagainstplastic.co.uk/
