Spreading the eco friendly message: Pinjarra Primary student reducing school's plastic use

Already leading an inspiring life at just 10 years old, the Pinjarra Primary School student is on a mission to make her school more sustainable.

As well as working hard in the classroom, the eco warrior has spent the school year educating her peers about plastic ocean pollution and successfully removing all plastic straws from the canteen.

Showing the Mandurah Mail around her school and teaching us about the new straw alternatives, Prada explained her motivation for spreading the environmentally friendly message.

"I hated seeing plastic and rubbish around the school because it effects wildlife so much," she said.

"I thought if I started recycling it and picking it up, it would be better for the environment.

"So I have made some PowerPoint presentations, had plastic straws banned from the canteen and taught my class all about recycling and we have a recycling bin in class that we use."

Pinjarra Primary School principal Christian Louis said Prada had put in an impressive amount of effort to make changes at the school canteen.

"Prada came to me with her presentation and samples of straws that we could use instead of plastic and I took her idea with her to the P&C," he said.

"Prada even went one step further and fund-raised money from local businesses and went out and purchased her own box of paper straws.

"She presented them to the canteen and that was it - the plastic straws got reused in the kindy area for craft things and the paper straws have been a great hit since then."

Saving up her pocket money for more than six months, Prada purchased 2500 bio straws to last the school canteen for the rest of the year.

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Prada's mother, Jo Fletcher-Glentworth, said her daughter had been inspired by visits to the Mandurah Forum's new Critters Conservation Centre.

The brain behind the engaging and educational experience is Critters Up Close founder and Mandurah wildlife warrior Michael Smith, who encourages environmental awareness.

Ms Fletcher-Glentworth said Prada's efforts had been encouraged by the Critters Up Close team.

"She has learnt a lot from Michael at Critters Up Close - he is her idol," she said.

"She's so passionate and I'm very proud.

"We do recycle a lot at home but she has inspired me to do more because she is just so environmentally aware."

Prada said she loved visiting the Critters Conservation Centre.

"It's my favourite place - I've been at least four times already and I don't think I could get tired of it," she said.

"Little Gumnut is my favourite.

"I want to do something like this when I grow up, I want to help protect animals."

Prada is now looking to help set up a sustainability group at the school and hold fundraisers to buy more recycling resources.

Mr Louis said he would encourage other local schools to join the recycling movement and do what they can to be environmentally friendly.

"It's really good - the whole school community has thrown their support behind it," he said.

"It's all about managing what we can do and how often we can do it and recycling is always a positive initiative."

Students looking to join the movement and ban straws from their school are encouraged to become 'strawbassadors' for the Australian Straw No More campaign.

Started by 11-year-old Queensland girl Molly Steer, a number of Mandurah cafes are already on board with the eco crusade, with schools also urged to join.

To take the pledge, visit the Straw No More website.