The North Paravur municipality plans to expand its ‘plastic-free model schools’ project to more institutions by the next academic year.
Students in lower primary and upper primary classes will give up using plastic boxes and carry cloth pouches as part of efforts to make government and aided schools under the local body ‘green’.
“We had supplied such nature-friendly bags to nearly 1,500 students in government and aided schools in the new academic year,” said municipal chairman Ramesh D. Kurup.
The pouches were distributed to students of lower and upper primary classes in select schools. Mr. Kurup said the pouches were made from recycled clothes. The members of Bhoomitra Sena Club, the green community comprising students of St. Teresa’s College and workers of Kudumbasree had helped in making the cloth pouches, he added.
The municipality authorities took the lead in distributing ink pens to students of Government High Schools (Boys and Girls) at North Paravur in an effort to do away with ballpoint pens.
Nearly 750 ink pens were distributed to the students in the first phase of the project.
Mr. Kurup said students used at least two refills a week while using ballpoint pens. The total number in an academic year would run to thousands, leaving behind a mountain of plastic waste on campuses. The idea was to reduce the use of plastic items while promoting eco-friendly products, he added.
The local body has plans to develop the Government High Schools (Boys and Girls) as model educational institutions, where plastic will not be used.
A concerted campaign involving the teachers and students will be carried out to take forward the message.
The school authorities will set up plastic collection points on the campus, where students bringing plastic items can deposit them for recycling. Parents will be encouraged to cut down on the purchase of plastic school accessories.