Two schools have been presented with awards for their efforts in reducing plastic.

Salcombe Primary and Thurlestone Primary Schools have both been awarded Plastic Clever certificates for making big changes to reduce single-use plastic in their daily routines.

Thurlestone Primary are storming ahead with their 16-strong eco-team, devising an action plan to start measuring the changes they want to see happening. They have started awarding Plastic Clever packed lunches have also stopped handing out juice cartons with plastic straws for packed lunch day.

Salcombe Primary now uses metal straws for their ‘Milkshake Mondays’ with headmaster Mr Andy Pugsley, no plastic cutlery/cups are used in the school kitchen and most children bring sandwiches in lunch boxes rather than wrapped in clingfilm.

As well, Salcombe Town Council have approved and funded metal drinks bottles with the Plastic Clever Salcombe logo for all schoolchildren and preschool children in the town.

Mr Pugsley said: “It is a great achievement for the children to receive the award for being the first Plastic Clever school in Devon. They have worked tirelessly, making sure that on a day-to-day basis everyone at Team Salcombe cuts down on single-use plastics within the school.

“They have also campaigned with the local town council to change the way some events are run and to advertise the message using posters around the town. This is only the beginning, as we have set up our first ever eco-council, who will carry on the campaign.

“We are changing the way that the curriculum is delivered at the school from September and the Plastic Clever campaign will be at the heart of it! Our future aim is for Salcombe C of E Primary School to be the flagship school in the country for Kids Against Plastics.”

Anna Turns, founder of Plastic Clever said: “Since first doing assemblies in both these schools a few weeks ago, I’ve been blown away by the children’s enthusiasm - they have been so proactive and engaged with the idea of becoming more plastic clever as a school community and it just goes to show that each child really does have the power to make small changes that make a big difference.”

The Plastic Clever initiative is inspired by and part of Kids Against Plastic, a national campaign encouraging people to use less single-use plastics. Anna and her six-year-old daughter, Ella set up Plastic Clever Salcombe after being so inspired by sisters Amy and Ella Meek, who founded Kids Against Plastic with the aim of engaging the younger generation with the issue of plastic pollution.

Amy Meek, 14, said: “It’s an environmental disaster that we’re all growing up experiencing, and one that us kids are going to inherit if we don’t do something about it.”

Her sister, Ella, 12, explains the Plastic Clever mindset: “We aren’t forcing people to be plastic free; that’s almost impossible and demotivating for many. That’s why we want people to be Plastic Clever; a simple, easier, and more effective way of using less plastic. It involves cutting out unnecessary plastic and not using the big four polluters (plastic cups and lids, straws, bottles and bags) and using reusables instead.”

Anna and Ella, along with Kids Against Plastic are also rolling out plans to 18,000 schools in the near future via the Keep Britain Tidy eco-schools programme.