Plastic Oceans Australasia and Veolia Australia and New Zealand are partnering to educate the next generation on plastic waste, as part of their aligned mission to support plastic reduction and increase education around recycling and waste management.
Under the partnership, Veolia will fund 20 schools to undertake the full Plastic Oceans Australasia program, which includes surveys, presentations, guest speakers and engage in practical experience at a Veolia facility.
Each school will engage in a 12-month learning experience, gaining a better understanding of the impact of plastic pollution on marine and freshwater environments.
Ricki Hersburgh, Plastic Oceans Australasia Executive Director, was pleased to kick off the program for the first school in NSW with an incursion from a waste expert.
“The Plastic Oceans Australasia education program uses science to educate students on the impact of plastics on our waterways and oceans, but it also uses fun activities that cater plastic-reduction initiatives to each school – making it student led to drive behaviour change in their communities,” Hersburgh said.
“The nationally recognised education program was created over seven years and uses science to inform students about the impact of plastic in waterways, oceans and the natural environment.”
The partnership was announced in December 2020 during Plastic Oceans Australasia’s webinar series Unwrapped: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly side of Plastic, with newly appointed Veolia CEO Richard Kirkman.
“Empowering children to better understand the challenges and benefits of plastic, whilst creating solutions for the future, aligns to Veolia’s ambition of ecological transformation,” Kirkman said.
“We are looking forward to seeing what comes from this valuable educational program for the 20 schools we are sponsoring.”
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