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Belfast Students are tackling the issue of waste disposal and recycling through participation in Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s Eco-Home programme. The student project is working with three colleges across Belfast; Stranmillis University College, Queen’s University Belfast and Belfast MET. Students access information on how to save money and the environment through practical advice and develop lifelong eco-attitudes!

Stranmillis University College are working towards becoming Northern Ireland’s first Eco-Campus and welcomed the opportunity to invite Eco-Home to the campus during their ‘Green Week’ to chat to students about waste and recycling and introduce the Eco-Home programme.

Christopher Teggarty from Stranmillis’ Eco-Campus Committee said: “We are delighted to be to be associated with the Eco-Home Student project alongside Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. The Stranmillis Eco-Committee has been spreading the green message by actively encouraging students and staff to be more aware of their waste management both at home and at work. The project is a great way to inform people about ways to save money as well as protect the environment through improving recycling habits. By working together with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, our goal is to improve awareness of environmental issues and concerns."

Carmel Fyfe, Eco-Schools Manager, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said: “It is wonderful to see student households across the city getting involved in the Eco-Home Programme and making simple changes like recycling and switching off appliances which all add up. Our young people are not only developing environmentally friendly habits that will last a lifetime but are saving money and helping to keep rate bills down by reducing waste to landfill.”

The Eco-Home website offers lots of useful information and ideas on how to be more environmentally active at home, is open to all householders and suggests not only great ways that to prevent waste but also how to reduce energy and water usage and consider greener transport methods. To take part, simply complete a short survey and get recommendations on practical actions you can make in your home. Once you’ve made the changes, you complete a second survey to find out the value of your improvements.

The Eco-Home Student project funded by the NGO challenge fund and administered by NIEL is running until the end of March. Every student who registers with the Eco-Home project by 25th March 2014 will be entered into a prize draw where they will have the chance to win an eco-prize to the value of £70. To find out more information on the prize and take part in Eco-Home join register now or call the Eco-Home team at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful on 028 9073 6920.

The Students will also be taking part in Northern Ireland’s biggest volunteer clean up and collecting litter in the Stranmillis area as part of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s BIG Spring Clean. To find out more information or register your own clean up event go to www.bigspringclean.org.