Hazelwood's Green Swat Team puts Poots through his paces

Environment Minister Edwin Poots joined pupils from Hazelwood Integrated Primary School today to mark Recycle Week.

During his visit the Minister had the opportunity to see how pupils are applying the three R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, inside and outside the classroom.

He also joined pupils from the student council, known as 'The Green Swat Team' during one of their classroom inspections. These are to check that pupils and teachers are saving energy by turning off electrical sources when not in use. This not only helps the environment but saves money for the school by lowering energy bills.

Mr Poots said: “I want to commend Hazelwood Integrated Primary School for their innovative approach to teaching children the importance of protecting our planet through the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

“Through their recycling practices they have in one year alone saved 110 trees and recycled 2700 plastic bottles and 6600 cans.

“By instilling these principles in children and putting them into practice, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom walls. The messages themselves become “recycled” as children carry the practices home to family and friends and through to adulthood.

“During this year’s Recycle Week I want to encourage all schools to equip pupils to be ambassadors of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle message.”

Head teacher of Hazelwood Integrated Primary School, Mrs Murtagh commented: “We are delighted that the positive work that we have been engaged in with Bryson Recycling has been recognised by the Minister’s visit during Recycle Week. Our children are justly proud of all their efforts in recycling paper, card and plastic as well as the clothing recycle bin which is regularly used by our parents.

"Recently we were awarded the Green Eco flag for our work developing the sustainability curriculum in our school. Our pupils from three years of age are very clear about their responsibilities in looking after our world – these are the citizens and decision makers of the future and it is right that we raise their awareness from an early age. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are key words for Hazelwood!”

To find out more about how you can recycle more at work, at home or in school log on to: the Rethinkwaste website

Notes to editors:

1. Recycle Week, an annual campaign by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) takes place from 21 - 27 June 2010.
2. Bryson Recycling collects recyclable materials (paper, plastic bottles, cardboard and cans) from the school on a fortnightly basis. The school has a new clothes recycling bank and ink cartridge recycling box and has plans to recycle fruit and vegetable peelings for composting.
3. The school was awarded the prestigious Green Flag from the Eco-Schools scheme on 17 May 2010 for its hard work on the topics of energy, recycling and school grounds.
4. Eco-Schools is a government programme set up to help schools become environmentally sustainable. In Northern Ireland it is administered by TIDY Northern Ireland (supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency).
5. Schools which participate must set up an Eco-Committee, undertake an environmental review and develop, implement and monitor progress against an action plan.
6. There are three levels of award – bronze, silver and the Green Flag – the latter is awarded to only those schools which achieve the top level criteria for each of the seven elements of the programme.
7. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of the Environment Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours, please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.