12 June, 2019
Staff and pupils at Flegg High Ormiston Academy (FHOA) are taking great strides in the battle against single-use plastics as part of their #iwill campaign! Susan Page, Catering Manager at FHOA has been busy working hard to find alternative single use packaging for the thousands of meals and snacks served every week at the academy.
Single-use plastics, or disposable plastics, are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled, and include everyday things like plastic bags, straws, stirrers, drinks bottles and other food packaging. Each year it is estimated that 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced, of which 40% is single-use.
Susan and the students both felt very passionately about the amount of plastic that was being used and following some hard-work and research have successfully managed to replace all the plastic and Styrofoam products in their canteen with recyclable paper and cardboard packaging. In addition to the food packaging Susan has worked closely with the students to gain their input about other items such as plastic bottles and alternative recyclable cartons are now being sold in place of bottles.
Susan’s great work doesn’t stop there though, as she also works with the students when designing the canteen menu and as a result has introduced some tasty new healthy items, along with a fresh salad and fruit bar where students can help themselves to a wide variety of items. One student commented: “We are really lucky here as all the food is nice and Mrs Page and the ladies in the canteen really listens to us, we are going to miss Mrs Page when she retires in July”.
A huge well done to Susan and all the pupils at FHOA for this inspiring step forward!
The amazing #will work taking place in our academies is the result of Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) securing £2 million of funding from the #iwill fund and national charity Ormiston Trust to help young people become involved in youth social action. For more on the #iwillfund click here.
Category: News
