Year Five have been using their STEM skills to try to solve a problem linked to the impact of plastic waste around the world. We looked at photographs from Nepal showing a range of people (including children) picking through waste from ‘waste’ tip site on the outskirts of Kathmandu (the capital city of Nepal). The collectors often live in extreme poverty.  Throughout the Plastics challenge, we found out how Practical Action’s work in Nepal is supporting waste collectors.  

To test how different plastics decompose, we planted some of these items under soil in the school grounds and we will observe their decomposition after a month.  

We reminded ourselves about the 3Rs Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and explained the difference between reuse and recycle. Once we had a good understanding of the problems caused by waste plastic, our own challenge began! We had to design and make a product that the Hamro Mahila women’s group in Nepal can make to increase their appeal to international markets.