Battle of the bins as Waterford schools take on countywide litter challenge for €1,500 prize

Waterford students are being urged to roll up their sleeves and help keep their communities clean as the fifth annual Schools Litter Challenge gets underway.

Launched by Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Seamus Ryan, the six-week initiative will see secondary school students from across the city and county litter-picking in their local areas, all in a bid to make Waterford a cleaner, greener place to live.

The challenge is organised by Waterford City and County Council in partnership with Waterford Chamber and supported by Tom Murphy Car Sales Toyota, which is sponsoring the €1,500 prize for the winning school.

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Mayor Ryan praised the students' commitment, saying: "Over the last four years, students from schools throughout the city and county have removed bag after bag of litter. Their enthusiasm is infectious and if this challenge spurs even one person to clean up their rubbish after them, the message is clear — small changes have big impacts on the environment."

For the challenge, the Council is providing gloves, bags, litter pickers and high-vis vests to all participating schools.

Tom Murphy, Chairman of Tom Murphy Car Sales, said it was inspiring to see the project enter its fifth year. "At the heart of the Schools Litter Challenge lies the belief that every individual has a role to play in protecting our environment and strengthening our sense of community," he said.

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Last year's overall winners, Waterpark College, are among those returning to defend their title. Teacher Deirdre Cahill said her students were "delighted" to get involved again. "Our students invested time, energy and commitment to the task, and we were thrilled to see that dedication rewarded," she said.

The competition runs until December 10, with the winning school set to be announced at a special ceremony in City Hall on December 17.