A schoolgirl’s climate campaign has led to East Renfrewshire Council committing to cut down on single-use plastics.
Emelia Hamilton, a P6 pupil from Netherlee Primary, has been congratulated by councillors after bringing the issue to their attention.
Her “fantastic” class presentation was sent to all councillors, who then backed a motion presented by Cllr Annette Ireland.
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It resolved to “work towards developing a robust strategy to make East Renfrewshire Council a ‘single-use plastic-free’ authority”.
Emelia’s presentation said: “We are told we need to save our planet so I think it’s wrong for us to keep selling plastic water bottles in schools.
“The damage we are causing the planet doesn’t have to happen and I want a healthy planet to grow up in for me and my friends.
“I think by banning the sale of plastic water bottles, we can not only make a big difference to the planet but we can set an example to all the other schools and councils in Scotland.”
Cllr Ireland praised Emelia at a full council meeting [December 14] for her work on climate change. “The dangers of single use plastics, they are real and they are serious,” she added.
An online petition, launched by Emilia, to ban the sale of bottled water in East Renfrewshire primary schools, collected over 140 signatures.
Emilia, a member of her school’s eco-committee, said: “My school sells plastic water bottles in our break time tuck shop and I think this is bad for the environment.
“The damage to the environment, the air and the oceans is getting really bad, so if we just use cups (that we can hand back to the kitchen after) then it would be much better for the planet.”
The motion, which received unanimous support, pledged the council will work with East Renfrewshire businesses, tenants and citizens to encourage them to adopt similar measures.
It will also engage with teachers and pupils in primary and secondary schools on the climate emergency, including any measures which can be taken to remove the sale of water in plastic bottles from schools and replace them with a “more sustainable alternative”.
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