Having established a plastics and paper recycling scheme in school, (please see: https://en-gb.facebook.com/stciaransballygawley.org/posts/2508707009407809?__tn__=-R ), the Eco Council surveyed and quantified the extent of plastic bottle usage in the school. On average 642 plastic bottles are used each week! To begin to reduce the usage of such single use plastics, the Eco Council are now holding a Plastic Bottle Free Day during EWWR. Pupils and staff will only be allowed to use a refillable water bottle. This will hopefully encourage everyone to keep on using refillable bottles going forward and a reduction in plastic bottle usage will be recorded.

Having successfully promoted battery recycling for EWWR 2018 and established an on-going battery collection point in the school, the Eco Council are going to give everyone a reminder to bring in old batteries for recycling during EWWR – to make sure such hazardous wastes are separated for recycling and not incorrectly disposed of in household bins!

Both these actions help to send waste reduction and recycling messages into pupil’s homes, helping the whole community to take action to reduce waste and recycle more.