There is still time for children and young people to enter an art competition that will see winners’ creations travelling around the borough on the sides of rubbish trucks.

Climate action is really important to Ealing Council, so its waste and recycling contractor, Greener Ealing, has been asking young people to design messages to help everyone think more about ways they can help the environment they live in.

As part of this, Councillor Peter Mason, leader of the council, and councillor Deirdre Costigan, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, visited a year 7 art class taking part in the competition at Elthorne Park High School, in Hanwell on Tuesday, 6 July.

Councillor Costigan said: “I was really impressed with the thought that the students were clearly putting into their designs and I enjoyed talking to them about the importance of making small changes locally to reduce air pollution and damage to our environment. They shared some great ideas and I’m really looking forward to judging the entries. I was really pleased to learn that so many of them recycle at home too.

“It’s so important that we get the small things right, like disposing of our waste in the right bins. It can reduce harmful pollution and also save council taxpayers money in the long run.”

Entrants must draw, colour or paint a design that will remind residents of their environmental responsibilities. This might include recycling household items correctly, putting rubbish in a bin or ways to help climate change.

You must be 18 or younger and attend a school, nursery, or playgroup in the borough to take part. The closing date is 5pm on Sunday, 25 July.

Winners will see their artwork reproduced to appear on a Greener Ealing truck and also win a prize for their school, nursery or playgroup.

Ealing Council adopted a Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy earlier this year and it is committed to using its influence to reduce emissions emitted across the borough, and help to mitigate climate change and reduce the loss of plants and wildlife.

The competition will be judged by Greener Ealing’s interim managing director Kevin O’Leary, Councillor Costigan and Ealing artist Jessica Rose.