PUPILS in Dunmow are being rewarded for going green after their school received a prestigious accolade this week. Helena Romanes School has been named a Lead Healthy School by the Essex County Council s healthy schools group, meaning that it is now a cent

PUPILS in Dunmow are being rewarded for going green after their school received a prestigious accolade this week.

Helena Romanes School has been named a Lead Healthy School by the Essex County Council's healthy schools group, meaning that it is now a centre of good practice and excellence which other establishments can consult for advice.

It puts the 1450-pupil strong school in an elite list as very few secondary schools have achieved the same standard.

Healthy schools co-ordinator, Christine Horton, helped put recycling projects in place, which ultimately saw the school receive the award.

She said: "We have been working for the award for the last two to three years by trying to reflect what is going on in the community and nationwide in recycling and saving energy.

"We aim to bring about a change in the mindset and lifestyle everyone in the school community in terms of trying not to create waste and recycling the waste we do."

Everyone at the school is involved in the on-going effort and pupils or entire classes are being rewarded for outstanding efforts.

However some problems with costs have had to be overcome concedes Mrs Horton. "We do feel that we have made a great deal of progress and everyone is involved in re-cycling paper, card, plastic bottles and cans.

"Our kitchen staff help and we are about to start re-cycling food waste following a temporary gap due to an increase in the cost of the biodegradable bags.

"Currently, we are trying to keep account of the amount we re-cycle each month so we can offer the rewards to students and classes who work particularly hard."

To cap at all, Uttlesford District Council has also told the school that it now recycles more waste than any other school in the district.

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