School children have joined forces with Merton Council to persuade busy commuters to recycle their rubbish.

Pupils from primary schools across the borough put paintbrushes to paper to create lively posters asking people to recycle their newspapers.

The talented young artists included eight-year-old Brook Circelli, who won first prize, and Lucy Blackburn, seven, both from The Priory School in Wimbledon. Lizzie Burder, nine, who goes to Holy Trinity Church of England School, Wimbledon, also scooped a prize. Rosie Boxall, 10, who also attends Holy Trinity, and Jemima Erhabor, who goes to St Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic School in Mitcham, were highly commended.

The winning school will receive £100 worth of gift vouchers and the three prize-winning artists have all won goodie bags worth £20.

The council’s plans include putting copies of the winning poster up at train, tram and tube stations across the borough to remind commuters to recycle. The council will even be helping children learn more about the importance of recycling by holding assemblies at The Priory School, Holy Trinity and St Thomas of Canterbury.

Merton Council cabinet member for the environment Councillor David Simpson said: “The children all worked extremely hard on their posters and the finalists are clearly very talented artists.

“It is vital for people to recycle as much rubbish as they can, especially when it comes to newspapers, if we are to make the borough a cleaner and greener place which is pleasant for people to live in.

“We are determined to put the quality of life of our residents first and this means persuading commuters who live in the borough and those who come in to work here to recycle after themselves.”

Are you a family passionate about recycling? Do you work for a business that puts the environment at the core of its business; does your school have a travel plan? If so, log onto http://www.merton.gov.uk/green_guardian_awards and find out more about the 2008 Green Guardian Awards.

-Ends-