Primary school recycles soft plastic, wins $3,000

Holy Family Primary School wins big!

Holy Family Primary School Merewether took out the Young Business Mind Award for collecting soft plastic bread bags for recycling through the Plastic Police® program. Primary school students from Merewether’s Holy Family have showcased their recycling efforts with the installation of bench seating made from 100% recycled plastic for the school playground. They’ve been recycling their soft plastics with the Plastic Police® for over two years.

An entrepreneurial group of Year 5 secured the significant achievement in winning first prize in the Hunter Young Business Minds Awards. This is an amazing achievement and displays the hard effort students have made to recycle and close the loop on plastic waste.

The innovative school set a challenge for their students called ‘PLAGS’ to collect soft plastic bread bags for recycling through the school’s involvement in the Plastic Police® program. The project helped raise awareness in the school community on the impact of plastic pollution on wildlife and the environment. As part of their involvement in Plastic Police®, the school is taking action to tackle this issue every day but reducing and recycling their soft plastic.
PLAGS earned the team the top award for “Best learning experience for innovation, creativity or entrepreneurialism, in the school or classroom”, taking out the prize of $3,000 cash. The students used their winnings to purchase six new iPads for the school.

The students talk about their efforts with recycling in this video (starting at 4:35 min).

Plastic Police® Sustainability and Education Officer Lexi Crouch said, “Congratulations Alex, Bianca and Amy on your incredible achievement. It is truly inspiring to see young people like you making such a positive difference for the environment. Well done to Holy Family primary school on your recycling efforts and for educating the next generation of the importance of protecting our planet.”

We challenge other schools to become a part of the Plastic Police® program and join the war on waste! Like Holy Family, you too can make positive impacts in your local community and reduce plastic pollution ensuring a positive future for our planet.

For more information on how your school can join, check out the Plastic Police® Starter Pack.