ENVIRONMENTALLY friendly schools will be celebrated at the first ever Eco School Awards.

Schools across Denbighshire are being invited to join in the awards event taking place in April 2020.

The six awards will recognise the work going on in schools to reduce waste and to recycle.

Categories include:

  • Litter Prevention: This award will recognise work done within schools or the community to address any type of littering.
  • Single Use Plastic Reduction: An entry can be submitted if schools have done something to reduce single us plastics.
  • Waste Improvement: The award recognises schools that have taken action to reduce the amount of general waste that goes to landfill or incineration. This could be achieved by improving the recycling system or through preventing the creation of waste in the first instance. The winning school will have figure to demonstrate their impact.
  • Recycling in the Community Award: Schools that have undertaken projects to promote recycling within their communities should apply for this award. They could be acting as hubs to collect items for recycling, such as textiles or maybe pupils have created posters or leaflets to help educate and promote recycling to their friends and family.
  • Environmental Champion: This Award recognises the efforts of one individual who has gone above and beyond to their school become more environmentally friendly.
  • Denbighshire Outstanding Eco-School: All schools are invited to create a display of their overall Eco-Schools activities. Eco-committee members will have the opportunity to talk about their board during the event and the winning entry will be decided through a vote by everyone attending on the day.

Category winners will receive a prize, free transport for an Eco-Committee or class to visit the brand new Parc Adfer Energy from Waste facility and an award trophy made from recycled plastic.

Cllr Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Environmental Impact, Waste and Sustainable Travel, said: “Our schools in Denbighshire are great ambassadors for the environment and they are doing a tremendous amount of work in their schools to become greener to help preserve the planet for future generations.

“We are delighted to be working with Keep Wales Tidy to recognise their efforts through the Eco-schools awards and celebration event. The event will also give participating schools a chance to learn about each others exciting projects and help strengthen the Eco-School network of dedicated pupils, teachers, caretakers and parent helpers that make up each school’s Eco-Committees.

“We have some major changes on their way for recycling and refuse collection services in the county and we want to work with as many schools as possible to help prepare them and their communities for the changes coming."

Visit www.keepwalestidy.cymru/Pages/Category/eco-schools for more information on the programme.