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Name: | Orla McKeon-Carter |
Age: | 16 |
Year of the Fix: | 2008 |
Location: | Plymouth |
Campaign: | Reduce plastic waste |
I became simply fed up with the plastic waste, which is accumulating not just in my town, but all over the country.
Waste - particularly plastic waste - is very damaging to the environment. It can take years to decompose, and damages wildlife.
I decided to do something with this waste - to use the things people throw away to create something different, rather than just waiting for it to rot.
My group of Fixers and I teamed up with Tavistock artist, Maggi Squire, to turn hundreds of unwanted bags into a giant bird sculpture, which was displayed at Drake Circus Shopping Centre in Plymouth.
The sculpture is now the centrepiece of an exhibition of recycled art at the London Wetlands Centre, and viewed by hundreds of visitors each day.
The influence of my message has led to the Wetlands Centre itself changing their bag policy in their gift shop and introducing jute bags instead of plastic.
Soon after my Fix, I travelled to London to accept the South-West Regional Eco Award as part of the V National Awards at the O2 Arena.
I'm proud of what I achieved, and I hope that I contributed to changing views on the environment among other young people.
Here is a list of Fixers helping me with my Fix.
Niall McKeon-Carter | Reace McDonnell |
Zoe Gascoyne | Sally Tucker |
Dan Eglinton | Jason Uncles |
Sarah Harris |
Maggi is a local artist who came up with the concept of our giant bird sculpture, which uses unwanted recycled plastic bags.
Kevin Mott, Cleansing Officer for Plymouth Council
Kevin appeared in my broadcast piece to support our Fixers campaign.
The Centre was motivated by my campaign to start using re-usable bags in their gift shop as opposed to plastic carrier bags. They also showed their support by putting my sculpture up on display.
November 2009
I was ecstatic to have won the the Eco category for the South West at the Vinspired National Awards. I was very grateful to Fixers for helping my campaign to get noticed in such a big way.
October 2009
A year after my Fix, my sculpture was relocated and displayed at the London Wetland Centre. You can watch the video by clicking here.
January 2009
I was featured on 'West Country at Westminster' with fellow Fixer Martin Ritchings to discuss why I think young people are disengaged from politics. Click here to watch the video.
Sam Barakat
Hannah Baker
'Ben'
Olivia G
Chelsie Brown
Lauren Taylor
Sam Womack
Liam Thomas
Shak & Natasha
'Kate'
Meghann
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
Jade Kingdom
Shannon Rawlings
Tilly and Bella
Ethan Mcinally
Jo Quinn