2025 Primary Schools Competition

Bord na Móna Recycling is excited to relaunch our Primary Schools Upcycling Competition. The educational challenge is designed to provide students with a platform to raise awareness about upcycling as an environmentally friendly practice, whilst fostering creativity and innovative thinking.

Open to primary and special schools in the Republic of Ireland, students are once again encouraged to showcase their ability to repurpose discarded materials into innovative, functional or artistic creations. Entries can be made individually, in teams, or as a class.

Over €5000 in prize funds will be awarded across 3 age categories, with the winning class also receiving an educational school tour.

Age categories:

• Junior, Senior Infants & First Class
• 2nd, 3rd & 4th Class
• 5th & 6th Class

The inaugural competition was won by Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh, Limerick for their creative, resourceful and impactful entry which enhanced and protected their school environment from the impacts of playground activities. The students demonstrated excellent lateral thinking by upcycling materials, rendering them with informative artwork and constructing and delivering a durable solution to a real-world problem.

With a long-standing reputation for promoting environmental education and awareness in communities throughout Ireland Bord na Móna Recycling is actively supporting students in becoming more waste conscious.

Bord na Móna Recycling Brand Marketing Manager Shane Mackey stated: ‘We’re excited to relaunch the Primary Schools Upcycling Competition with expanded age categories, responding to the incredible enthusiasm we saw last year. The competition will once again be supported by live classroom presentations and an interactive classroom resource pack to drive engagement and deepen students understanding of sustainability. With more opportunities for participation, we’re confident this year’s competition will make an even greater impact, inspiring the next generation to think differently about waste and environmental responsibility.”

For more information or to enter visit www.bnmrecycling.ie/primary-schools

Closing date for submissions is Friday April 11^th, 2025.