29/09/2009
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
Press Release Issued 29th September 2009
GREAT EXCITEMENT AT SCOIL CARMEL AS GREEN FLAG IS HOISTED!
28TH SEPTEMBER 2009
There was great excitement at Scoil Carmel Junior National School in Firhouse on Monday 28th September as pupils, staff and parents watched their hard earned green flag for litter and waste being hoisted into the air for all to see.
Over the past year many waste reducing initiatives were implemented at the school such as reusing lunch boxes and drink bottles and composting fruit peels which resulted in an impressive reduction in waste to landfill by half from 30 bags per week down to 14 bags per week. The school grounds are kept clean and litter free by pupils. The Green Schools Assessment took place April and they were subsequently awarded the green flag after demonstrating they had implemented the seven steps of An Taisce’s Green Schools Programme. They will now start work on the next Green Schools theme – Energy.
Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County Councillor Eamonn Maloney attended the flag raising ceremony and said “I am really impressed to hear how all the pupils and staff work hard as a team to change the way you dispose of waste and to help make your school a cleaner and greener place”.
The Green Schools Committee is made up of the pupils, teachers and the caretaker and the programme was coordinated by teacher Eimear Melvin.
Over 3,100 primary, secondary and special schools in Ireland are currently taking part in the programme and 1,465 have been awarded the Green Flag. The Irish Green-Schools programme is one of the most successful within the international network. One of the main factors in the success of the Irish Green-Schools programme is the partnership between the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and Local Authorities i.e. the financial and time contribution of the Local Authorities to the programme.
For further information contact Claire Hinch, Environmental Awareness Section
Photo L to R – Green Schools Committee with Eimear Melvin Green Schools Coordinator, Principal Ursula Martin, Deputy Mayor Councillor Eamonn Maloney
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Scoil Carmel received Green Flag