How do you promote protecting water? UGDSB shares tips for reducing single-use plastics
December 18, 2018
GUELPH, Ontario – The Upper Grand District School Board saw 100% of schools attain certification with the Ontario EcoSchools Program last June. Noting this amazing accomplishment by schools, it is clear environmental advocacy is near and dear to UGDSB students and staff.
The Earth Day Network is calling on everyone to end plastic pollution and this issue is something many students and staff have seen a push for in their schools. According to National Geographic, “single-use plastics are especially wasteful and many plastics are also not properly recycled and take up precious landfill space or pollute our oceans, killing marine life and washing up on pristine beaches. Plastic garbage ‘islands’ are appearing in seas and oceans all over the world.”
Awareness around protecting water is increasing worldwide and many UGDSB classrooms are studying the importance of protecting water through the Junior Water Walkers program. Water Walkers learn about protecting water through Indigenous teachings and incorporate protecting water in to their daily lives. Recently the work of Junior Water Walkers at Island Lake PS, Rickson Ridge PS, Victory PS and Victoria Terrace PS was included in a Junior Water Walkers presentation that featured more than 70 North American schools.
UGDSB Environmental Curriculum Lead, Karen Acton has provided some excellent tips to reducing single-use plastics that end up in our water:
- Do not just use reusable cloth shopping bags at the grocery store, use them at all retail stores.
- Avoid buying over-packaged foods; do you need to buy the carrots that are shrink-wrapped to a Styrofoam tray?
- Tell restaurants you frequent that it would be nice if they join the movement to ban single use straws and only serve straws upon request.
- Switch to tap water and carry a reusable water bottle.
- Bring a travel mug with you when you go to a local coffee shop to avoid getting an unrecyclable paper cup.
- Ask governments to fix an environmental problem that you have concerns over.
Tweet @ugdsb using the hashtag #UGLearnGreen some of the ideas you have for reducing single-use plastics.
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