School Name: Mercy College, Coolock, Co. Dublin
Project Name: Let’s Get Greener
Award: Making Our World Greener Challenge

Award presented by Tommy Walshe, President, National Parents Council, Post Primary.

This project aimed to increase student awareness of recycling and reduce their school’s litter problem.

The students studied newspaper articles on the topic, surveyed the students in their school to get their opinions on the litter problem and interviewed teachers on the issue.

The team took part in a workshop about litter with an Environmental Protection Officer who discussed how Environmental Protection Agency protects the natural environment. A Green Schools Officer also gave a presentation on waste disposal.

During Repak Recycling week, the students organised a poster campaign and several competitions including a tidy class competition, best recycling superhero drawing, best recycling motto for the school and they offered a prize for the best recycling poem. Students took part in the National Spring Tidy competition 2011.

A ‘Let’s Get Greener’ notice-board was created in the school, as well as a Green Committee. In the future, the team would like to increase the number of green committee members, increase recycling facilities, achieve green flag status for the school and create further awareness about recycling and reducing school litter.

The judges said this is a “Very well researched project with strong partnerships. They employed innovative awareness-raising, which included a puzzle. The team has very good ideas to keep the project going.”