School scoops double prize

Denbigh wash squash and recycle

A school garden in North Tyneside that’s filled with beautiful flowers, wildlife and small animals will flourish after the children’s efforts win a top prize, twice!

Denbigh Community Primary School has scooped prizes worth £600 in total from North Tyneside Council for the children’s environmental efforts.

The prize, awarded once a term, is given to schools that keep to their promise of washing, squashing and recycling any recyclable materials.

And the Howdon-based school has done just that on two occasions now, identifying items that could be recycled but also promising to recycle more at home too.

They’ve used the prize money to buy plants and trees for the school’s recently revamped sensory garden, which is already home to chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as a variety of flowers.

Speaking about the school’s achievement, Cllr John Stirling, cabinet member for Environment, said: “I’d like to thank and congratulate the children and staff at Denbigh Community Primary School – they’ve worked very hard and I’m pleased their prize has helped to revamp their fantastic sensory garden.

“The competition is proving to be extremely popular with both schools and the wider community. Denbigh is the ninth school to be awarded the £300 prize and over 100 residents have won a share of more than £7,000 in high street vouchers after taking part.

“We’ve had over 2,000 residents now pledge to wash, squash and recycle, which is great news because waste isn’t just a council problem. We need everyone to do their bit and recycle properly so we don’t waste money on unnecessary landfill charges, money that could be much better spent elsewhere.”

North Tyneside Council has been running ‘Changing Our Thinking’, which provides rewards and incentives to encourage residents to recycle, since early 2014.

Either by entering online or at a community roadshow, residents are asked to guess the number of recyclable items in a 240-litre wheelie bin. They’re also asked to make a pledge to wash, squash and recycle at home.

In return, they’re entered into a prize draw and those who keep to their promise are in with a chance of winning monthly prizes of £100 and an annual grand prize of £1,000.

Residents can enter the competition at www.northtyneside.gov.uk and the details of roadshows, which are currently touring the borough, can also be found on the website too.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The campaign is being delivered by the council in partnership with Groundwork North East, an environmental regeneration charity, and is funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government's Weekly Collection Support Scheme.