Published: Tuesday, 30th June, 2009 3:32pm

Waste Minimisation art competition winners named

A YOUNG artist from Lilliesleaf Primary School picked up the top prize in a competition to design an advert to promote Scottish Borders Council"s (SBC) "green" message.

Charlotte Moore, 10, will have her winning picture transformed into a three metre wide advert to be displayed on the Council's fleet of waste and recycling collection vehicles. The advert will travel throughout the Borders, seen by thousands of people each day.

Hannah Ritchie from Eyemouth Primary School and Caitlin Cottrell from Knowepark Primary School in Selkirk were runners-up. A number of entries were also Highly Commended.

The talented children had been taking part in SBC"s waste minimisation art competition, supported by Sainsbury"s in Peebles. Their brief was to design an image to urge everyone to reduce and re-use their waste.

Waste minimisation is now a high priority for the Scottish Borders. SBC has seen a dramatic increase in its recycling rate since kerbside recycling was introduced in 2005. Now it is promoting other ways to cut waste.

The most effective way to cut waste is to reduce what we use in the first place. Reusing materials is the next most effective habit and then recycling brings up the rear, as recycling often involves using natural resources (for example fuel is needed for power to manufacture new products).

Each primary school was invited to submit two entries for judging in the art competition finals. Charlotte was congratulated on her win by Councillor Len Wyse, Executive Member for Environmental Services, who said: 'Charlotte"s picture was perfect for this competition - giving a creative, but very clear message to the general public that it is better to reduce or re-use where possible.

"I hope she will be very proud when she sees her artwork travelling around the borders on Council refuse vehicles.'