PRESS RELEASE - 12 April 2011

Youngsters win cracking Easter competition

Cracking leaflets containing top tips for reducing Easter packaging waste have been produced by county schoolchildren.

Youngsters from Seagrave Village Primary school scooped the top prizes in a county-wide competition organised by Leicestershire Waste Partnership, which is made up of the county, district and borough councils, to raise awareness of the issue.

More than 250 children entered the 'Reduce your Egg-Cessive Easter Waste' leaflet competition but the winning designs were all penned by youngsters from Seagrave Primary.

The winners were Amy Ingleton (10)  (Key stage two winner), and Josie Ingleton (7) (Key stage one  winner), with Rachael McDermott (10) scooping a highly commended prize.

Top tips to reduce Easter packaging waste in the colourful winning leaflets included making your own egg, reusing Easter packaging by making items such as egg holders out of them or using the cardboard to make a collage.

Certificates have been given out to the winners and the winning designs will be circulated electronically to schools across the county to help spread the message.

Tony Kershaw, chairman of Leicestershire Waste Partnership, said: “We had some fantastic entries – it was obvious that a lot of thought had been put into the designs.
 
“I would like to offer my congratulations to the winners. Their leaflets not only look great but they are also helping to spread some important messages about reducing Easter packaging waste.”

The competition which was part of Leicestershire Waste Partnership’s Think Packaging! campaign aims to encourage people to reduce “egg-cessive” Easter packaging, which amounts to approx 3,000 tonnes of waste in the UK every year.

Ideas to help reduce Easter egg packaging waste include:
• Buying foil wrapped Easter eggs and bunnies rather than boxed ones
• Choosing eggs with reduced packaging, a smaller box or packaged with recycled materials
•Sending an e-card instead of an Easter one to reduce waste
•Making your own Easter egg using special moulds

More information about reducing packaging waste and making your own Easter eggs and gifts can be found at: www.lesswaste.org.uk

Background
The Leicestershire Waste Partnership is made up of the seven districts of Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire, Oadby and Wigston, together with the County Council.

The Partnership has a clear vision for sustainable waste management. It aims to reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill – by preventing waste in the first place, encouraging reuse, recycling and composting, and treating what’s leftover before disposal.

Working together, the partners aim to recycle or compost 58% of rubbish by 2017.