Waste Aware Western Isles
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Western Isles Youngsters Make Tonnes Of Difference To The Environment
Carloway Primary School accept Gold Oak title.
Local schoolchildren have shown their support for a greener Western Isles by recycling 3 tonnes of old Yellow Pages directories.
All Western Isles schools have taken part in the Yellow Woods Challenge – the simple, educational and fun environmental campaign run by Yellow Pages, the Woodland Trust and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
Pupils were encouraged to bring old Yellow Pages directories into school for recycling whilst learning about green issues in the classroom. The schools competed against each other for the chance to win cash prizes from Yellow Pages for recycling the most old directories per pupil.
Carloway Primary School scooped the prestigious ‘Gold Oak’ title and was rewarded with £300 for recycling 22.64 old directories per pupil.
The ‘Silver Birch’ award and £200 prize money went to Sheilibost Primary School while Bragar Primary School were lucky to achieve two awards winning the ‘Bronze Beech’ certificate and the Most Improved School bonus award. Their prize money totalled £200.
The top-performing schools were honoured at their school on Tuesday 27th October. All participating schools will receive a certificate from campaign mascot, Kirk, in recognition of their recycling efforts. Knock School, Balallan Primary and Lewis Independent Christian School achieved 4th, 5th and 6th place in the local competition.
Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, the publisher of Yellow Pages* directories, said: “Congratulations to all the schools that got behind the Challenge and demonstrated tremendous commitment to helping the environment. Western Isles Schools collected a grand total of 3926 old directories, which were taken to the Creed Park Recycling Centre.
For every pound awarded to schools, Yellow Pages has given a matching pound to the Woodland Trust – the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.
Janice Hix, corporate partnerships manager at the Woodland Trust, said: “The Yellow Woods Challenge helps us raise valuable funds for our ‘Tree For All’ campaign – the most ambitious children’s tree-planting project ever launched in the UK. In addition, it helps teach children about looking after our native woodland and gives them a hands-on opportunity to grow and plant their own trees from seed.”
Sharon Mackinnon, Community Awareness Officer at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, added: “The Yellow Woods Challenge provides an excellent opportunity for schools and residents of the Western Isles to work together towards an environmental achievement. We’re not only keeping paper out of landfill but also supporting the UK recycling industry by providing the Creed Park Recycling Centre in Stornoway with useful recyclable material.”
The Western Isles Challenge has now closed, but local schools still have the UK Awards to look forward to. Top prizes of £1,000 are on offer for schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in directory recycling, environmental education in action, community involvement and creative approach, as well as creating giant artworks from the old Yellow Pages directories. For details visit: www.yellow-woods.co.uk
