EACS year 7s hunt through the rocks for rubbish at Port Beach. Photo: EACS.
As plastics continue to wash up on Esperance’s coastline this winter, year 7 students at Esperance Anglican Community School (EACS) devised practical solutions to prevent and remove marine rubbish.
EACS science teacher Kenya Forsyth said the inventions were inspired by their STEM excursion to Port Beach, where they witnessed pollution problems first-hand.
“Some designed net systems that could be installed in local harbours and along beaches to trap floating debris before it reaches open water,” Ms Forsyth said.
“Others created autonomous cleanup ‘ducks’ — small robotic devices equipped with filter nets and magnetic elements to collect both floating plastics and metallic waste.
“A few groups developed smart bins for beach use, which not only sort rubbish into categories but also include educational signage to raise public awareness.”
Ms Forsyth said it was eye-opening for many students to discover the severity of the litter in the community, which they realised was not always obvious.
“We found a surprising amount of rubbish — much more than expected,” she said.
While the beach itself looked very clean at first glance, a lot of waste was hidden in the rocks of the groynes and retaining walls.
“Students discovered items like dog-poo bags, food wrappers, cans, drink cups and lids, straws, and plastic bottles wedged between rocks and buried in sand.
“Many were shocked by how much rubbish was concealed in these areas and how easily it could be overlooked.”
According to Ms Forsyth, fishing line and nets accounted for most of the rubbish they found in late June, as they surveyed the area between the Taylor Street Jetty and the Whale Tail.
She said the goal was to teach the students that they could play a part in protecting the marine environment.
And said the local connection made the problem feel more “urgent” and “personal” and left many students inspired many to take action.
“The students gained a deeper understanding of the scale and complexity of marine pollution,” she said.
“They learned how much rubbish enters the ocean every day globally and how even small items can break down into microplastics that persist in the environment and enter the food chain.
“They explored the various sources of marine rubbish, including stormwater runoff, littering, and lost fishing gear, and how human activity on land directly impacts ocean health.
“More importantly, they realised that marine pollution isn’t just a distant issue.”
Ms Forsyth said the excursion was a success and said the school was planning to continue the initiative annually.
