Pupils’ artwork to be showcased at Liverpool recycling centres

ENVIROMENTALLY AWARE: Winners previewed their artwork banners

Pupils from schools across the Liverpool City Region have been thinking about what they want their future world to look like. It is part of a competition, Our Future World, organised by Veolia and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority.

After workshops and assemblies in schools, youngsters were challenged to think about the small changes we can all make to create a better world. They were asked to come up with ideas to be featured on banners at at recycling centres across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.

More than 3,000 pupils from 17 schools took part in the programme, which resulted in almost 200 hand-drawn designs along with personalised messages. A panel of judges carefully selected six winners whose drawings will be made into banners.

The competition is part of the free education programme, delivered by Veolia on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, which is available to schools across the Liverpool City Region. The programme aims to educate children and adults about the significance of recycling and protecting the environment.

Winners and their families were invited to a special celebration event at Gillmoss Recycling Discovery Centre to preview the banners before they were taken to be displayed at all 16 recycling centre in the Liverpool City Region.

Our Future World highlights the importance of individual actions in safeguarding our environment. Simple changes such as switching off lights to reduce carbon emissions, planting wildflowers to enhance biodiversity, choosing to walk instead of driving to reduce pollution or saving resources by recycling unwanted items at local recycling centres can all make a significant impact.

Lesley Worswick, chief executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority said: “The ‘Our Future World’ competition has provided a great springboard for children across the Liverpool City Region to share their thoughts on the small, everyday actions we can take to positively impact the world which we live in. This level of education and engagement plays an important role in embedding environmentally friendly principles into the consciousness of children.

“Well done to the 200 children who entered the competition, which produced some amazing ideas, and huge congrats to our six winners! The banners which they have created are not only visually impressive, but are also an eye-catching reminder for residents using Household Waste Recycling Centres across Merseyside and Halton of the things we can do to protect our planet for current and future generations.”

Steve Mitchell, from Veolia said: “We’ve been blown away by the ideas and drawings created by the children. By delivering the ‘Our Future World’ education sessions in schools we’ve been able to raise awareness of the changes we can make to protect our environment, which is an important part of Veolia’s purpose to deliver ecological transformation.”

For more information on the education programme, available to residents in the Liverpool City Region, or to book a tour to witness the recycling sorting process at a Materials Recovery Facility, visit here.

Location: Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral