SAFFRON WALDEN youngsters are going green to help promote the benefits of recycling in the local community. A state-of-the-art, �150,000 recycling machine which separates and eats up most household waste including aluminium and steel cans, plastic bottles

SAFFRON WALDEN youngsters are going green to help promote the benefits of recycling in the local community.

A state-of-the-art, �150,000 recycling machine which separates and eats up most household waste including aluminium and steel cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles and jars, is being installed at the Tesco superstore on Radwinter Road.

And primary schoolchildren could win �500 for their school and �100 for one lucky youngster if they come up with a snappy slogan or poem about the benefits of recycling and caring for the environment.

The youngsters will then be invited to officially launch the new "one-stop shop" Recycling Centre at a special ribbon cutting ceremony.

A Tesco spokesman said: "Recycling is a key issue for our customers and we are constantly looking for ways to help and make the process as effortless as possible. The new machine will make recycling fun, quick and easy to do for the whole community."

The all-in-one automated hi-tech Recycling Centre, which works like a reverse vending machine and compacts waste material, will more than double the amount of recycling at the store and revolutionise the way shoppers recycle - making it quicker, easier, more convenient and more fun.

It will compliment existing recycling facilities on site and also 'talk' to customers through a combination of audio and visual guidance on a special screen

The new Recycling Centre will be operational shortly when details of the launch event and winning school will be announced.

Pupils can send their poster creations to: Tesco Schools Recycling Competition, Freedman Brown Communications, 64 Stephenson Terrace, Deepdale Road, Preston, PR1 5AR. Please include your name, school name and a contact telephone number. Deadline is December 7 at 3pm.