Call for action over plastic bottle litter at Sheffield schools

Students at Parkwood E-ACT Academy in Shirecliffe have been given a reusable water bottle after plastic ones were prohibited.

READ MORE: Plastic bottles banned at Sheffield schoolThe idea for the ban came from students after they watched an episode of popular television documentary Blue Planet 2 which highlighted the mass of litter that ends up in the world’s oceans.

A number of Sheffield Star readers took to Facebook to praise the move and called for it to be rolled out in schools across the city.

Craig Pinder said: “All schools should bring this into force.”

Emily Brown believes it is a “good idea” and highlighted how some students would probably throw one plastic bottle away a day.

She added: “It’s a step in the right direction.”

Phil Vintin posted that this “hasn’t been happening in other schools recently” and Parkwood should be “commended.”

Clare Gregory called for more recycling bins to be put into schools.

Teacher Sean McGillian said: “Many conscientious students already bring re-usable plastic bottles day-in-day-out for their packed lunch.

“But even if half our cohort throw away one plastic bottle every day, we are still adding 450 plastic bottles to the already vast problem.

“We knew this wasn’t the right thing to do, and at Parkwood we always aim to do the right thing.

Headteacher Vicky Simcock said the move was part of developing students into becoming responsible people. She added: “We believe it is vital to develop our students not just academically but as world-wide, responsible citizens.”