The first of 20 schools will commence the Plastic Oceans Australasia (POA) Schools Program, sponsored by Veolia Australia and New Zealand.
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. The students will be empowered to create solutions, whilst learning about recycling and other innovations that exist already.
POA and Veolia are partnering to deliver the program as part of their aligned missions to support plastic reduction and increase education around recycling and waste management. Under this partnership, Veolia will fund these 20 schools to undertake the full program which includes surveys, presentations, guest speakers and engage in practical experience at a Veolia facility.
Ricki Hersburgh, POA Executive Director, was pleased to kick off the program for the first school in NSW with an incursion from a waste expert. “The POA 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.”
“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,” said Ms. Hersburgh. “I’m so pleased to be partnering with Veolia and celebrate World Water Day by sharing this news.”
The partnership was announced in December 2020 during POA’s webinar series Unwrapped: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly side of Plastic with the newly appointed Veolia CEO Richard Kirkman, who spoke of the potential in partnering with POA.
“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.”
“We are looking forward to seeing what comes from this valuable educational program for the 20schools we are sponsoring.”
POA and Veolia are proud to celebrate World Water Day by commencing the education program which will raise awareness about plastic entering waterways and oceans, and what can be done to challenge this.