Young artists across the district are encouraged to take part in a recycling poster competition that could see the winner(s) have their artwork printed and installed onto one of the collection vehicles.

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) have organised the competition, which opens today (June 5) and closes on Monday, July 10.

Competition rules

The competition has two age categories: category A, ages 3-6 years inclusive, and category B, ages 7-11 years inclusive.

Entrants are told to use bold and bright pens and pencils and A4 landscape paper and to email their artwork to wasteminimisation@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.

The winner(s) will also be invited to visit the depot and be one of the first to see their designs on the side of the collection trucks.

District's recycling challenges

Executive councillor for leisure, waste and street scene, Simone Taylor, said: "The contamination of the recycling bins is one of our principles challenges here in Huntingdonshire and in the UK in general, where we often have black sacks, textiles, or polystyrene causing the issue.

"At HDC, we are committed to creating a better Huntingdonshire for future residents by lowering our carbon emissions.

"We are keen to see what the children will create to help us educate our residents."

From January to April, the content of over 3,800 blue recyclable bins was sent to landfill as their contents were not fully recyclable or contained black sacks, equating to roughly 33,000 kg.

HDC estimate this emitted between 23,1 - 56,1 tonnes of CO2.

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One tonne of CO2 is equivalent to producing almost 14,000 chicken fillets or heating a 25m2 apartment for one year.

Fifty tonnes of CO2 are the equivalent of driving for over 188 000 miles in a Compact MPV (Fiat 500L type of car), which is like driving around the world 7.5 times.

This can be reduced simply by recycling properly, which the competition aims to encourage.

Ideas for inspiration

Below are some of the key challenges the district is facing, which could be used for inspiration.

  • Black sacks don't go in the recycling bins (which is typically the blue bin).
  • Polystyrene, textile, wood, and food don't go in the recycling bins.
  • Soiled recyclable materials (usually from food).

To view the terms and conditions of the competition, and check if you are recycling properly, visit HDC's website.