FROM LEFT: Jamie Woods, seven, Jacob Austen, eight, James Smith, eight, Lauren Ballard, nine, and Chloe Cook, eight, with some of the school's recycling

A PRIMARY school which has set up its own recycling centre and recycling club has been put forward as a nominee for the Green Watch Heroes Awards.

The awards, sponsored by The Gazette and local energy supplier Southern Electric, were launched last Thursday. The aim is to recognise and celebrate the individuals, groups, schools, families and businesses that make Basingstoke and Deane a cleaner, greener borough.

Marnel Junior School, in Shetland Road, Popley, Basingstoke, is in the running for one of the accolades.

The school set up its recycling club at the end of last term, following a two-month recycling project that saw all lessons linked to the recycling theme.

It included the establishment of a school recycling centre where children, as well as their families, can drop off recyclable rubbish, including milk cartons, mobile phones and ink cartridges, which cannot be recycled using the kerbside collections.

The eight members of the new recycling club, from Year 3 and Year 4, are now responsible for running and promoting the centre within the school.

Sue Peopall, head of the lower school, said: "The team of eight children meet once a week after school to sort through the recycling. They are also responsible for ensuring the recycling bins are available for pupils to use during break times."

Bright target charts have been placed around the school to show how much recycling has been collected from the school's many recycling bins.

Mrs Peopall said: "The whole project is motivated by the children. Pupils are still coming in with bags of recycling from home. We've almost filled a whole box with mobile phones, which will be recycled and will raise a bit of money for the school, and we have made three trips to the clothing bank.

"So far, it has worked very well, and I don't see why we wouldn't continue having a recycling club forever. It's good for the children and the environment, and it's nice to get the whole community involved."

To enter the awards, write to The Gazette, in no more than 250 words, explaining why you or your nominee is a Green Watch Hero in Basingstoke and Deane and should be recognised.

The awards are open to everyone, so whether you're a family group, school, company, charity or individual, we want to hear from you.

Entries need to be sent to Green Watch reporter Eleanor Stride. E-mail eleanor.stride@basingstokegazette.co.uk or send in entries by post to Eleanor Stride, Gazette Newspapers, Gazette House, Pelton Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6YD. The closing date is Friday, March 7.

The winners will scoop an eco-goodie bag containing a selection of energy-saving gadgets, plus their own tree to plant as a permanent reminder of their win.

Green charities will also benefit, with £1,500, donated by Southern Electric, to be shared out for winners to donate to an environmental charity of their choice.

The winners will also be invited to a glittering awards dinner at Basingstoke College of Technology's Robert Newman Restaurant in April, where they will be presented with their prizes and recognised for their environmental achievements.

10:34am Friday 8th February 2008

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