In our quest to encourage best practice in recycling, the Student Council saw an opportunity to reduce the amount of plastic waste that was flowing through our school everyday.
Each day, both staff and students were going through over 400 plastic water bottles. A huge percentage of these water bottles were not empty and were being littered around the school. Not only were we wasting copious amounts of drinkable water, the bottles were being carelessly discarded.
The Student Council monitored this issue and identified that reducing the use of plastics bottles was necessary for Desmond College to play a part in reducing our carbon footprint. Upon working in collaboration with school management, a resolution ensued.
Two fountains, which produce fresh, ice-cold water were introduced to the students and staff. To encourage the reduction in plastic waste, each member of the school community was given a free refillable water bottle.
Even though, this initiative has only been in existence for a short time, there has already been a dramatic decrease in the amount of plastic waste in the school. Also, because the water is so fresh from the fountain, students are drinking even more water.
We want our students to be aware of the effect plastic has on our environment. The free plastic water bottle initiative has received great interest among both staff and students.
Have you got the bottle?
Tomás White, Patrick O Grady and William Ahern showing off their new refillable water bottles
New environmentally friendly water filling machine
Jack Kelly, Dominic Scanlon and Nathan Shanahan