Rethink waste this Christmas

IN a bid to encourage local children and their families to Rethink Waste at Christmas, Coleraine Borough Council’s Recycling Officer, Fiona Watters, challenged local school children to make Christmas tree ornaments and decorations from rubbish.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jul 2012, 09:30 BST

And the results have been astounding!

Last month, all Primary 6 and 7 pupils in the borough were invited to take part in a competition to design and make a Christmas tree ornament from rubbish. Funded by the Department of the Environment’s Rethink Waste campaign, the competition challenged children to think differently about rubbish, save money and the environment.

The Department of the Environment campaign aims to help raise awareness, encourage best practice and achieve behavioral change at home, at work, at school and in the community in order to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill.

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Fiona explained: “The aim of the competition is for children to have fun, be creative and make a Christmas tree ornament from rubbish. I would encourage people to think differently about waste and hope this is one way to support children and their families to think about reducing and recycling their rubbish.

“Having viewed hundreds of hand-made decorations, I am overwhelmed by the creative talent in the borough. The children have made the most beautiful, colourful and attractive decorations from items that would have otherwise ended up in the bin.

“My congratulations and thanks go out to everyone who took part, especially our winner, Simon Goligher from Ballytober Primary School. Sincere thanks to all the schools who embraced this competition with such enthusiasm.”

Mrs Anderson, principal of Ballytober, said: “This is a fantastic competition and we’re over the moon to have won for the second year running. Our Primary seven pupils embraced the challenge to turn a pile of rubbish into Christmas tree ornaments. The children really surprised themselves with the results, which look fantastic hanging on the Mayor’s Christmas tree.”

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Also taking part in the competition were Harpur’s Hill, Portrush, St. Columba’s (Ballerin) St. Columba’s (Kilrea) primary schools. The winning designer, Simon Goligher and his classmates were welcomed to Cloonavin to hang their decorations on the Mayor’s Christmas tree, make some crafts and enjoy a tea party.

Visitors to Cloonavin will be able to enjoy the children’s’ decorations from now until January. Photographs of the ornaments can be viewed at www.colerainebc.gov.uk/schools

GREAT EFFORT...Fiona Watters, Council Recycling Officer, with pupils of Ballytober Primary School, Portrush. CR50-291s