WATCH: Plastic collection drive at Hartford College Mondeor

"It seems only natural our learners want do as much as possible, be passionate and get involved in being the solutions to environmental issues."

June 7, 2019

Julie Maule 2 minutes read

Grade Two learners at the bin on the outside pavement of the school, with teaching staff (back) Rudi Kritzinger, Lisa Whiteman, Ashleigh Harris and Nicola Forbes.

PRINCIPAL of Hartford College Mondeor Nicola Forbes and her dedicated staff recently came up with a brilliant idea, a plastic collection drive, to stop so much plastic ending up on rubbish dumps and landfill sites.

Driven by Grade Four teacher Ashleigh Harris, the school asked learners and their families to collect plastic and bring it to school each week. The plastic is stored in huge bags and each week the bags are weighed and the amount collected by each grade documented. The grade which collects the most plastic over the course of three weeks wins a civvies day.

Hartford College also encourages paper collection.

“For our learners having a civvies day is a big thing and they go all out to try and ensure their grade wins,” said Nicola.

The first week a total of 113kg of plastic was collected, the following week 96kg and last week a total of 165kg.

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“It’s unbelievable just how much plastic our learners and their families collect. We have sectioned off an area on the school’s pavement where all the plastic is put out on refuse collection day and the recyclers who collect plastic and paper from the suburbs come here to fill their bags, which they then take and sell. We see local residents now also come and drop off their waste plastic, which is brilliant. As well as helping to stop so much plastic being dumped, we are helping the recyclers to earn some money too. So it’s definitely a win-win situation,” added Nicola.

Initially, the drive was going to last about a month, but because it’s been so successful it’s very likely it will carry on for at least the rest of the year.

Look at how much plastic has been collected in just a week.

Environmental focus

Hartford College is known for its strong environmental focus and since the school opened in 2009, it has been involved with many eco-driven projects. They also collect paper which is put into Ronnie Bags and collected.

“Our learners are taught about saving the planet and everything which goes along with it. With our school bordering on the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, it seems only natural they want to do as much as possible, be passionate and get involved in being the solutions to environmental issues. We are very proud of them,” said Nicola.