The Binmen

We have chosen to highlight the opportunities our waste can provide by demonstrating how we can give a second life to everyday waste products, namely plastic waste.

Our Social Issue

We have chosen to highlight the issues and harm waste is causing locally, nationally and internationally. We have specifically honed in on the harms plastic waste are causing and the actions being taken to resolve this

Why We Chose It

We chose this issue as we are really concerned for our future on this planet. We became aware in CSPE in Junior Cycle of how plastic waste is disposed in poorer countries. When doing the A-Z exercise on social issues there was a lot of environmental waste themed issues highlighted. Our school had as part of our green flag initiative last year addressed the plastic waste in the school. Following this we then did some further research and while we are recycling this is not in many instances recycled.

Our Goal

Our big idea is to address the alarming statistic that 7 in 10 bottles that are placed in a green bin are not recycled. Our goal is to drive awareness of this alarming statistic and initiatives to be taken to address in the areas of reduce, reuse and recycle. We aim to locally highlight how to reuse plastic bottles We aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced We aim to highlight and pressure policy makers and recycling companies to put in place strategies to reduce the 7 in 10 statistic.

Our Innovative Action

We have highlighted the issue of plastic waste through campaigns on the schools various communication channels like Instagram, School Bulletins etc. We have designed our greenhouse, collected the materials to be used and then began the building process for our greenhouse, we hope to have this completed in the coming weeks. We are also in the process of putting together a lobbying strategy to campaign local politicians and recycling companies to put in initiatives to address the 7 in 10 statistic.

Our Impact

It has brought us as a team much closer, and we have all become better friends. The team has made a positive impact on the students and the teachers in the school as many more of the students are using our collection bins and are using reusable bottles making a dent in the amount of plastic waste we are generating and therefore helping people affected by our plastic waste. In terms of the greenhouse when finished this will be a great outlet for current and future students and can be used to aid students learning and understanding in horticulture