Siblings Ellie and Terry Pringle started growing plants in their parents' old coffee cups instead of throwing them away.

It has resulted in an online community called Grow Cups Bendigo that opes to raise money for a climate change charity.

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"Every few days during home schooling we went for a walk around the lake," Ellie said. "We went to the cafe and we kept getting these really nice cups and we could not throw them away.

"So we started putting plants in the cups and 'Grow Cups' started.

"The goals for the project are to reuse coffee cups and raise money for a charity for climate change."

Camp Hill PS art teacher Sandy McLennan had taught her students about reusing materials for artworks and encouraged Ellie and Terry's idea.

"As cafes were all using take away cups for coffees and other drinks as they couldn't use take-away cups due to COVID," she said. "The idea was to give the take away cups a positive second life.

"It also has other benefits such as creating community connections between students, parents, teachers and the wider community."

Terry said anyone could join in the growing community but said using keep-cups whenever possible was important.

"(People should) try and use keep cups when possible," he said. "(But) growing plants is very important for our health and the world.

"We have learnt a lot about climate change. We have a Green Team at school and we do some really great things like make our own compost and try and get everyone to bring Nude Food (lunch without wrappings)."

Ms McLennan said the whole school has got involved with the project.

They plan to have a stall at a future market to sell the seedlings and raise funds for a climate change charity.

"Our principal and Green team leader are very supportive of it," Ms McLennan said. "We have been back at school for two weeks, but Ellie and Terry have presented at the (virtual) school assembly and talked with the student Green Team.

"I am surprised that lots people love the idea and that some people have already started doing it.

"Because people like their coffee cups so much, we've made it a thing that helps people connect."

Ms McLennan said teaching kids about the environment flowed on to the rest of the family.

"The students are very aware of climate change and how growing plants helps the environment," she said.

"We talk to the kids about the world we grow up in and that it is important to even just do a little bit - it all adds to whole. Then we hear about kids telling their parents, so it is educating the parents as well."

For more information you can find Grow Cups Bendigo on Facebook and Instagram.