A pupil from Kilrea primary School has won Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s recent PlasticSmart poetry competition.

Shannon, who is in Primary 7, was selected for her poem “Save our Seas” following the grand final which took place in Cloonavin on World Environment Day (Tuesday 5th June).

Shannon’s success means she has won an art workshop day for her class along with an acrylic art set for herself.

Offering her congratulations, the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor Brenda Chivers said: “Our young people have such an important role to play in the future of our environment and we were delighted to see so many schools get involved with this awareness campaign.”

“I would like to thank every pupil and school who took part and congratulate all our finalists on their fantastic poetry. Special congratulations to our winner Shannon from Kilrea Primary School and runners-up Reanna from Carnalridge Primary School and Izzy from Leaney Primary School.”

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Environmental Resource Officer Fiona Watters, who organised the competition, said: “I wanted to hear the views of our young people who are the voices and minds of the future. Our Year 7 children are very aware of the issue of plastic littering and pollution in our oceans. Each of our finalists in the PlasticSmart Poetry Competition had clearly researched and thought deeply about the scourge of plastic pollution, the damage it does to the marine environment and the harm it causes wildlife and people.

“Reading the finalists’ poems, I could see that children are angered and outraged about how people are littering and polluting our environment with single-use plastics, items which we don’t need in the first place.”

All finalists’ poems will be on public display in Cloonavin until June 15th.

The PlasticSmart initiative, which includes awareness raising and practical action, aims to reduce the amount of plastic in our Borough and further increase recycling rates.

Run by Council’s Environmental Resource Team, PlasticSmart gives practical, actionable advice. It is difficult to eliminate all plastics from our lives, but we can raise awareness of the issue and empower people to make changes.

Help and support is available for businesses, schools, community groups and residents who would like to become PlasticSmart. Accreditation is available for schools, groups, churches and businesses.

Members of the public can play their part by making one change today:

  • use a refillable water bottle and top up at premises displaying the ‘h2o on the go’ logo
  • use a keep cup for take-out coffees. Many cafés offer discount when you bring your own cup
  • say no to straws
  • avoid plastic bags and packaging. Not everything needs to be in a bag
  • use cloths instead of disposable wipes
  • try a lunchbox or container instead of cling film
  • give a bar of soap a go instead of liquid soap in a plastic container
  • use cotton buds with a paper stick and don’t flush them
  • try a shampoo bar instead of liquid shampoo, which comes in a plastic bottle

More and more of us are taking action to become PlasticSmart. We would love to hear how you are getting on and what you have tried.

For further information on Council’s PlasticSmart initiative please visit www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/recycle or contact our Environmental Resource Team at recycle@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk or via 028 2766 0248

Shannon’s winning poem “Save our Seas”

Shannon from Kilrea Primary School, the winner of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s PlasticSmart Poetry Competition pictured with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Environmental Resource Officer Fiona Watters.