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BATTLE OF THE BAGS FOR ECO-JUNIORS

By County Press Reporter - Wednesday, February 15, 2006
BATTLE OF THE BAGS FOR ECO-JUNIORS
Ellis Brown, seven, one of the primary youngsters selling eco-friendly cloth bags at Newport's Farmers' Market. Picture by GEORGIA RUSSELL.
By Martin Neville
ECO-WARRIORS at an Island primary school are campaigning for a plastic bag-free Island.
It all stemmed from young eco-councillors at Northwood Primary School visiting the Lynnbottom civic amenity site, where they were shocked to discover it will be full in ten years.
They were particularly concerned to hear about the problem with plastic bags, which can take as long as 100 years to rot away.
The children contacted some of the Island's supermarkets suggesting they stopped giving away free carrier bags and start charging for them.
However, although the stores were sympathetic, they said they did not envisage charging at the moment.
During environmental week, the youngsters interviewed the IW Council's leader, Cllr Andy Sutton, who said while he could not stop shops giving away free bags, pupils could encourage their parents to recycle.
A survey of mums and dads revealed 90 per cent used free carrier bags.
Before Christmas, the eco-council designed and sold environmentally-friendly bags to parents and last Friday hired a stall on the Farmers' Market.
Nathan Parkman, eight, who helped on the stall, said: "We really want to stop people using plastic bags because they are bad for the environment. Our bags are made from cotton and are environmentally friendly.
"We are looking at how we can save the environment and do all we can around school to help."
The eco-councillors ensure all lights are switched off in classrooms not in use and that all taps are turned off.
"They really are our eco-warriors and are helping the school to achieve a green flag, the highest environment accolade," said headteacher Vicki Johnson.
"They sold around half their stock of bags at the Farmers' Market but it wasn't about making money. It gave the children the opportunity to handle money, give out change and tell people about their work and help them understand why they were doing it."
Another picture in the Friday, February 17, County Press.