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Nanaimo school aims to convert plastic bags to cash

NANAIMO – Uplands Park competes in plastic bag challenge to raise money.
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Reegan Sellars

Uplands Park Elementary School students are hoping to convert plastic to $3,000.

The school has signed up for the Plastic Bag Grab Challenge, a nation-wide challenge that sees schools collecting plastic shopping bags in the week leading up to Earth Day, this Friday (April 22). The schools in each province that bring in the most plastic bags for recycling, will be eligible for a $3,000 grand prize.

Second and third place finishers will receive $2,000 and $1,000 respectively and all monies must be used for environmental initiatives.

Mandi Eisener, Uplands Park's parent advisory committee member, said she got the idea when she saw an advertisement while waiting in line at Wal-Mart, one of the sponsors.

Lindsey Sellars, committee co-chairwoman, said they have collected a lot of bags, with 5,500 bags as of Tuesday afternoon. Students are assisting in the effort, she said.

“They've been counting with us and collecting and it's been nice,” said Sellars. “All the school has gotten together and brought in their bags. It's a good community thing.”

“Students go home, talk to their parents, and say that they have to bring in their plastic bags to recycle and that we're doing it to collect them all at school so that we can raise funds for our school,” said Eisner.

While Eisner and Sellars are impressed with what students have brought in, they are seeking help from the community as well. Lisa Robinson, Uplands Park's principal, said people can drop their plastic shopping bags at the school office by Friday.

Robinson is confident her school will be triumphant.

“Our parents promoted it, so the goal is when we do win, we're going to use the money for an outdoor event that promotes positivity and the environment ... so we have lots of great ideas,” said Robinson.

The rules specify that only shopping bags are eligible and prohibit others, including Zip-loc and clear produce bags.



Karl Yu

About the Author: Karl Yu

After interning at Vancouver Metro free daily newspaper, I joined Black Press in 2010.
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