A pupil from Osbaldwick Primary Academy is celebrating, after winning a creative art competition organised by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro).

Launched in November in partnership with City of York Council, the initiative aimed to raise awareness of the importance of recycling among primary-aged pupils. With the Council having recently expanded kerbside recycling collections to include aluminium foil, the competition challenged budding artists to create an A4 poster incorporating used foil as an art material.

Esme Dumont won first place, having impressed the judges with her creative design. Alongside taking home a £50 cash prize, her school receives £500 in vouchers to spend on sustainable art supplies and activities.

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, commented: “As the voice of the UK aluminium packaging industry, we’re committed to increasing national recycling rates. Working closely with local authorities provides us with a great opportunity to encourage resident engagement.

“With York having expanded kerbside collections to include aluminium foil, it seemed the perfect opportunity to do something different to celebrate, while simultaneously helping to educate the next generation about the importance of sustainability. Esme’s design delivered on the brief perfectly, while also sending out a clear message about recycling aluminium foil.”

Ben Grabham, Head of Environmental Services at City of York Council, added: “I’d like to personally thank all of the students who took part in the competition, sharing their posters and learning more about recycling. This competition to raise awareness of what can be recycled at the kerbside is just the latest step in our work to expand and improve recycling and waste services across York.

“We know residents are already doing a fantastic job of recycling in York, with around 43 percent of all waste being either reused, recycled or composted. The addition of foil to kerbside collections will help us further boost our recycling rates and continue our work to make York more sustainable.”

For more information about recent changes to waste services across York, visit www.york.gov.uk/recycling.

ENDS