Plastic pollution—and fighting plastic pollution—affects everyone in a different way. For example, a shopkeeper might be worried about a ban on plastic shopping bags if no cheap alternative is available. Ocean wildlife, on the other hand, would be pretty happy with a ban on all single-use plastics. A mayor or local councillor might want to tackle plastic trash to make the area beautiful and encourage tourists. But it’s also expensive to provide more trash bins and recycling services.

In this activity, you will try to see the issue from someone else’s point of view. In your classroom or group divide into groups of four, with everyone playing a different role. You can choose between the roles of plastic manufacturer, tourist, local resident, politician, storekeeper, young person, and fish. Have a discussion about plastic waste and plastic pollution, with everyone getting a chance to share their point of view and the particular challenges they face in this situation. What do each of you want? Whose situation seems more urgent? Is it possible for everyone to be happy? What solution(s) did you come up with? Regroup as a whole and discuss the outcomes of the role play. 

Carrying out the role play: 10 points