Uplands Park Elementary School hopes Nanaimo residents can help it defend its provincial Plastic Bag Grab Challenge title and maybe help it capture a Canadian crown, too.
The challenge sees schools collecting plastic bags and last year, the north Nanaimo school was tops in B.C., collecting 16,037 plastic bags. Top prize in the province is $1,000, which will go toward environmental initiatives at the school. Also up for grabs is a national prize of $5,000.
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Mandi Eisener, parent and organizer, said repeating as champs is only one reason why the school is entering again.
“When something like this comes up and the school has to come together, it’s pretty amazing how families in the community get involved here and it’s just something fun to do,” said Eisener. “We like to say we’re saving the Earth one bag at a time, just keeping the bags off the streets and trying to earn some money for our school.”
Eisener said students will also learn how the bags are made, what they’re used for and what happens when they go into the landfill and also when they get recycled.
The school will collect bags from Monday (May 29) to Friday (June 2) and bags can be dropped off at the school (3821 Stronach Drive) between 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“It’s going to be focused around the new curriculum and also, just our footprint in the environment,” said Lisa Robinson, school principal, when asked how the school would spend the money if it won. “It’ll be crossing grades kindergarten to Grade 7.”
According to the rules, only carry-out plastic shopping bags can be used. Food storage bags, clear produce bags, frozen food bags, milk bags, sandwich bags and plastic film packaging are not eligible.
For more information, please go to www.plasticbaggrab.com.
