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Repak today announced a €1 million sponsorship of An Taisce’s Green Schools Programme in Ireland. This support will see Repak take the lead sponsorship of the programme and will allow participation to increase from 67% of all schools in Ireland to over 95% over the next 5 years.
The Green-Schools programme helps to increase students’ and participants awareness of environmental issues. Schools that successfully complete each module of the 7 step programme are awarded a Green Flag. There are currently 1,277 schools in Ireland flying the Green Flag. This is nearly one third of all schools in the country. This sponsorship builds on and strengthens Repak’s engagement with schools over the last number of years through initiatives like Repak Cash for Cans as well as Repak Recycling Week schools competitions and Repak’s Young Recycler of the year award. Repak, in addition to helping to fund packaging recycling collections, is heavily involved in other promotional and educational recycling programs such as Repak Recycling Awards, Repak Easter Appeal, Repak Recycling Week and Repak Green Xmas as well as a number of targeted sponsorships such as Support of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean, and their sponsorship of Tidy Towns.
Commenting on the new sponsorship, Andrew Hetherington, CEO of Repak said “Repak is very proud to be involved with such a successful program. It is vital to encourage environmentally aware behaviour in young people. As sponsors of National Spring Clean and Tidy Towns initiatives we are already involved in the education of the wider community to their environmental responsibility. However, we are delighted to extend our member funding even further to incorporate schools, as these students are the future of recycling in Ireland and should be encouraged and rewarded as much as possible for their efforts.”
Also at the announcement, the Minister for Environment John Gormley said “I welcome Repak's decision to come on board and provide financial support for this remarkably successful programme."
The Irish Green-Schools programme is one of the most successful within the international network. Repak join Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland and The Wrigley Company Ltd. who have supported Green-Schools over the last 10 years. Green-Schools is also supported by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Dublin Transportation Office and Local Authorities. 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. Each of the Local Authorities (City & County Councils) has an Environmental Education Officer (EEO). These officers provide the invaluable on the ground support to schools undertaking the programme.
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brian.hamilton[.]scomms.ie 
