Public School Board Rolling Out Single-Use Plastics Ban

Single-use plastics are being phased out at the Greater Essex County District School Board.

Trustees have agreed to moving forward with a reduction strategy targeting items like plastic straws and bottles.

Board chair Jessica Sartori says a committee will identify the most problematic areas and develop a school and community awareness program.

"What we're hoping to do is try to come up with a plan in the next six months or so. There might be some quick wins that we can identify right away like using plastic cutlery and then we really hope to have a long-term impact."

She says a number of initiatives are already underway.

"Plastic water bottles have been banned in schools. Our board of trustees actually passed a motion a couple of years ago that we would not use non-reusable containers for our own drinking water, looking into alternatives for single-use plastics as well."

Chair of the Greater Essex County District School Board, Jessica Sartori (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)

Sartori says the best part about the whole process is that it has been very student driven.

"They have the support of their friends in their schools. There have been student activities in their own schools. Staff take it on and get excited about this initiative as well. Everybody is concerned about the environment. I think the awareness is there and now we've got to tackle it."

Back in May, Anderdon Public School students Darragh Aston and Addisyn Walker called for a board-wide ban of single-use plastics.

The strategy is expected to take between one and three years to implement.