RUBBISH

In Singapore, littering is a huge offence In Singapore, littering is a huge offence. Chewing gum is also completely banned. As well as receiving a fine, offenders are forced to do community service whilst wearing high-visibility jackets; the press are invited to watch.

Plastic never biodegrades, but splits into ever and ever smaller bits that are still plastic. In the Pacific Ocean, there is an area roughly twice the size of Texas with a high concentration of marine debris known as The “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”. It is not a floating “island” of debris, but a “plastic soup” where the plastic is distributed throughout the water column .The pieces get so small, that in the end they are ingested by over 180 known marine species, being mistaken for food and thus entering the food chain and ending up on your plate!

This artist impression from the European Space Agency show every piece of debris circling the Earth. Scientists say there are now 12,000 bits of rubbish in orbit – only 700 of these are satellites. The rest comprise everything from pieces of exploded craft to tools dropped during spacewalks.

For the next part of the assembly you will need 5 volunteers and a plastic shopping bag containing an apple of banana, a rolled up newspaper, a nappy, an aluminium can of drink and a drink in a plastic bottle. As they pass the bag along the line, the volunteers should be asked to guess how long each item takes to decompose. The audience should shout out either ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ in a ‘Play Your Cards Right’ style game.

2 yrs

10 yrs

100 yrs Some parts will never rot away

200 yrs

NEVER

NEVER

There are lots of reasons why we shouldn’t drop litter and one of the big ones is our health and hygiene. Litter attracts flies, especially in summer when it’s hot.

While you’re fast asleep in your beds, there are rats scuttering around the playground, sniffing out all the delicious scarps of food from the rubbish you’ve dropped.

And litter effects wildlife too And litter effects wildlife too. Last year, over 69,000 animals were treated for injuries caused by rubbish. And that’s not just wild animals, it could be your pet too.

One dog had its tongue cut off by broken glass and a baby hedgehog was strangled by a plastic bag just like this little fella.

Litter & the Law It is an offence to drop litter in a public place - you can be given an on-the-spot fine of between £50 and £80. If you are charged by a police officer, and this goes to the Magistrate’s Court, you could be fined up to £2,500. The School has a legal responsibility to be litter free and can be fined up to £2,500 plus a daily fee for not conforming.

Do it Salesian Styley! Take pride in your school. Don’t drop it, bin it! Tell others to pick up their rubbish.

Dear Lord, As we sit before you, we ask forgiveness for all the times when we have been weak or thoughtless and have not cared for your beautiful world. Like the litter that surrounds us, our souls are unclean. We pray, now, for a fresh start: For the strength to follow our own path, For the belief that each of us can make a difference, For the peace that comes only though you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen