CHILDREN from St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School in Knutsford were named as finalists at Ansa’s Junior Recycling Officers of the Year challenge at a fun, interactive event at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.

Ansa, a company owned by Cheshire East Council, was established in April 2014 and delivers environmental services for the council.

Every year, schools in Cheshire East nominate two junior recycling officers who work with Ansa’s waste education officer, Lucinda Hodges to prepare and present assemblies, run competitions, set up recycling schemes and collections and encourage other pupils to raise awareness of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

At the end of the year, junior recycling officers enter the yearly award and children, teachers and parents are invited to an awards ceremony where each shortlisted child gives a short presentation about the work they have done throughout the year and a team of judges choose the winners.

Judges, Clr John Hammond, chairman of Ansa, Clr Roger West, board director of Ansa and Jane Thomason, general manager of Ansa chose Shannon Levitt and Aimee Trembath from St John’s CE Primary School in Sandbach Heath as this year’s winners as they felt they had been the most innovative, creative and proactive in their approach but Olivia Greaves and Honor Lambert from St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School in Knutsford were also recognised for their hard work and were presented with a medal and wind up radio for being finalists.

At the event, Olivia and Honor talked about the work they had been doing over the last year in school to raise awareness about recycling which included composting, a recycled shoe campaign, making a mosaic out of glass which is now on display at the school and holding a school grounds day to name just a few!

Clr John Hammond said: “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Junior Recycling Officers last week and was very impressed with the work they have done within their school to educate other children about recycling.

“I would like to congratulate Olivia and Honor for being shortlisted as it’s a great achievement.”