A PLEA from pupils at a Coventry primary school to urge the government to reduce plastic waste and encourage more people to recycle has been heard in parliament.
Year 6 pupils at St Gregory’s Catholic Primary school on Harry Rose Road, Stoke, recently undertook a research project into plastic waste, and whether it was being recycled enough.
Many of the pupils wrote to Coventry North East MP Colleen Fletcher asking her to raise the issue in parliament and advocate for a deposit recycling scheme.
This would see people charged a deposit when buying plastic bottles, and then can earn it back by recycling the bottles.
And at Prime Minister’s Questions on World Environment Day, Mrs Fletcher raised the pupils’ letters formally.
Addressing David Lidington, who was standing in for Prime Minister Theresa May, she said: “Pupils from St Gregory’s Primary School in my constituency recently wrote to me regarding the problem of plastic pollution in our environment.
“They rightly pointed out the damage that plastic waste causes to marine life and human life as it makes its way up the food chain.
“As a result, they are calling on the Government to introduce a deposit return scheme that will reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfill and in our oceans.
“On this World Environment Day does the Minister agree with the pupils of St Gregory’s Primary School?”
In response, Mr Lidington said he had an ‘encouraging message’ to St Gregory’s, and said the government was consulting on a possible deposit return scheme in the future.
Marg Baker, Year 6 teacher at St Gregory’s, was really pleased the pupils’ hard work had resulted in a mention in parliament.
She said: “This was a fabulous day for the pupils. Having their research project mentioned in Prime Minister’s Questions by Colleen Fletcher made them feel really proud.
“It shows the younger generation have a voice. This is their future, and if they believe in something strongly enough they should stand up for it.”
Geraldine Marshall, principal of St Gregory’s, said: “It is important that we encourage strong values within all of our children.
“They are the future leaders of our country and the power of their voice can really make a difference. I’m delighted their concerns have been heard by parliament.”
