Barnegat Students Turn Plastic Waste Into Art

BARNEGAT, NJ — Barnegat students had an eye-opening experience when they picked up 75 pounds of trash by the Barnegat Lighthouse. They found a unique way to raise awareness about marine litter.

Elementary school students in the Leaders in Training club assembled an art project that brings attention to plastic waste. Students collected empty water bottles over the past month and attached them to a large wooden fish.

LIT students gathered Tuesday at the Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School to assemble the project. LIT advisor Bonnie Harris, a Robert L. Horbelt School teacher, created the wooden base.

“I think this was eye-opening for the students to see how many bottles they collected in such a short period of time” Harris said. “I hope they understand the kind of impact plastics have on the environment, especially the ocean.”

During the project, students learned how marine littler eventually breaks down into smaller bits. Fish end up eating them, and the plastic pollution harms ocean life.

A seine set full of more empty bottles will also be added to the piece with a sign that says, "Clean the Ocean, Save the Fish." The students voted on the slogan.

The project will rotate between all of the district’s elementary schools, where it will be on display for several weeks before moving on to the next school.

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