The Two Oceans Aquarium challenges all schools to get rid of plastic bags for good and become a zone free of plastic shopping bags.
“This is the perfect opportunity to become a plastic bag-free zone; the aquarium is here to help those schools that wish to make this commitment and change through the process,” says Renée Leeuwner, media and communications executive of the Two Oceans Aquarium.
This forms part of the facility’s youth focus for Plastic Free July this year.
The campaign is run in response to the issue of plastic pollution, which has become so pervasive in the oceans, and is responsible for the distress and deaths of so many marine animals, Leeuwner explains. “It is estimated that 80% of all ocean litter originates on land,” she points out.
During last year’s International Beach Clean-up Day, 757 523 plastic shopping bags were collected, recorded and removed from the beach environment.
“It is far easier and healthier for the environment to stop the bags from entering the environment in the first place, than having to clean them up once discarded,” Leeuwner says.
“For this reason the aquarium challenges schools to become plastic bag-free zones.”
Being a plastic bag-free school or zone simply means everyone agrees to no longer bringing single-use plastic bags onto the school premises. Instead, food and other items can be placed in reusable containers and bags.
“This small and simple change has a huge impact, helping young and old to rethink their ways around single-use plastic and to engage with the crisis of plastic pollution in the ocean,” Leeuwner says.
The aquarium realises that it is not necessarily an easy commitment to roll out in schools. It therefore offers hands-on support to eager schools.
Hayley McLellan, Two Oceans Aquarium environmental campaigner and founder of #RethinkTheBag, is available and keen to present at schools on the topic of plastic pollution in the ocean.
“These talks are high-energy, informative, inspirational, moving and free of charge,” she says.
This movement in schools is not new. Several schools have accepted the challenge and declared themselves plastic bag-free zones. The schools are Wynberg Girls’ High, Prestwich Street Primary, The Grove Primary, La Rochelle Girls’ High, Deutsche Internationale Schule Kapstadt, Timour Hall Primary and DF Malherbe High (Port Elizabeth) schools.
“Is it not time for your school to join this list of go-getters?”
Follow these easy steps to ensure your school becomes a plastic bag-free zone:
. Call or email the Hayley McLellan at the Two Oceans Aquarium on hayley.mclellan@aquarium.co.za, to chat about how to get on board.
. Nominate a champion to drive this change – this could be anyone in the school, a parent or a member of the school’s eco-club.
. Communicate what is being planned and why to the learners, teachers and parents, or set up a presentation with McLellan to facilitate this communication process.
. Once consensus has been reached with all involved parties, set a date for the “final bag”.
. Share the school’s stories of success and challenges with Two Oceans Aquarium.
. Nominate a sister or brother school to follow your school’s lead. Remember that McLellan is also on hand to support schools through the process.
“We can all make a difference and education is key. So starting in schools and empowering our youth to lead the way is a fundamental step in the right direction,” Leeuwner says.
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For more details on the #RethinkTheBag campaign or how to get involved, visit www.aquarium.co.za. Also go to plasticfreejuly.org for further information on Plastic Free July.
