Thank you to Maria, Belle and Valerie for sharing their experiences, and to AGN House for leading the way in this inspiring eco-initiative. This article explores how the House took on the challenge of recycling soft plastics, the impressive results achieved, and the positive impact it had on both the environment and the House community. 

As a House, we are always looking at ways to improve our environmental footprint. When the Eco-Committee highlighted the possibility of recycling our soft plastics differently, we took up the challenge. 

Maria (UV), our AGN representative from the Eco-Committee, explained why it’s so important for us to recycle soft plastic: 

“Plastic is one of the most pressing environmental issues today. It affects all living beings—humans, wildlife, and plants alike. Plastic is a non-biodegradable material, meaning it doesn’t naturally break down. Over time, it fragments into microplastics, which contaminate our food and even find their way into the human body, including the brain. These microplastics carry toxic chemicals such as BPA and phthalates, which disrupt hormones and cause inflammation and organ damage. Plastic is everywhere, and while reducing its use is challenging, recycling is something we can all contribute to, which specialised recycling organisations are going to take care of.” 

In response to the Eco-Committee’s call to action, we launched our own soft plastic recycling competition with an exciting incentive: the winning year group would earn a lie-in. The concept was simple—students collected soft plastic and stored it in their drawers, which would then be counted. 

What followed was beyond our expectations. Over a five-week period, our House collectively gathered and recycled an impressive 2,061 pieces of soft plastic. It was incredible to see the girls fully commit to the challenge. Some even took the initiative to go litter-picking in the woods, while others worked with the catering team to ensure their plastic was recycled properly. 

The Upper Fourth girls led from the outset of the competition. Belle (UIV) shared: 

“It was such a fun challenge and really made us realise just how much soft plastic we use in our daily lives.” 

However, it was the Upper Fifth girls who clinched victory with an impressive final push, collecting 411 pieces of soft plastic in just one week. A special mention must go to Valerie (LV), who went above and beyond by ensuring no soft plastic found its way into the outside bins. Her dedication was truly inspiring. Valerie said: 

“My friends and I became more competitive as the competition went on; we were determined to make sure all the soft plastic was collected, which cut our House rubbish by over half. Although we didn’t secure the win, it really put into perspective how much of a difference a small project like this can make.” 

“This competition not only raised awareness about the environmental impact of soft plastic but also brought our House closer together in our shared commitment to sustainability. We are proud of the efforts made and look forward to continuing our environmental journey, although we may have to invest in some weighing scales – it was a lot of counting!” — Mrs Brivio-stone