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Students school shoppers on single-use plastics (4 photos)

Harriett Todd Public School students survey Zehrs shoppers, hand out free reusable bags

If you ask Harrison Sibley why people should cut back on single-use plastics, the eight-year-old boy gets right to the point.

“Soon our world will just be a mountain of plastic,” he said.

Sibley was spreading the word with fellow Harriett Todd Public School students Wednesday and Thursday at Zehrs in Orillia. They approached shoppers and asked them to take part in a survey about plastic use. In return, shoppers received a reusable, insulated bag as well as a reusable bag for produce.

“They have been reacting good,” said Adam Nasar, 8. “They want to help the environment and make the world better.”

Asked why he was passionate about reducing plastic waste, the Grade 3 student said, “It’s hurting the environment and the animals. It’s hurting the world.”

Shopper Julia Ingles was impressed.

“It’s awesome. It makes them aware of the issues,” she said, adding she learned a few things, too, from the survey. “There were things I didn’t know the answers to, so I learned some stuff.”

Stu Burnie, teacher librarian at Harriett Todd, was proud of the students and the effort they put into raising awareness at the grocery store.

“When the kids have a cause and the right information, they’re the best ambassadors in the world,” he said.

This cause is worth getting behind, Burnie added, noting 500 billion plastic bags were made last year in North America.

“All of this stuff is still on the Earth,” he said. “It’s not going anywhere.”

When Burnie approached Zehrs with the idea, store manager Randy Rutledge was sold.

“We want to encourage people not to use plastic bags, so I thought it was a great idea,” he said. “(The students) are our future colleagues. They’re our future leaders.”

The kids surveyed 75 customers Wednesday and more than 60 by 11 a.m. Thursday.

Harriett Todd partnered with Artech to create the reusable bags to give away. The two-day event was made possible thanks to a SpeakUp grant from the Ministry of Education.


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Nathan Taylor

About the Author: Nathan Taylor

Nathan Taylor is the desk editor for Village Media's central Ontario news desk in Simcoe County and Newmarket.
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