Environmental Youth Speak has developed into an opportunity for school pupils all over Northern Ireland to learn and speak about waste issues.
It aims to encourage environmental awareness among our young people by giving them the opportunity to research and address environmental issues. The competition is organised by Northern Ireland's three waste management groups in co-operation with the Environment and Heritage Service.
Judges on the day were Lynsey Daly from arc21, Josie Gallagher from Bryson Education and Claire McCallum, from Bryson Recycling.
With a strict 5-minute time slot, P6 and P7 pupils from Straid, Ballynure, Fairview, Holllybank and Mossgrove primary schools competed in the junior section spoke their mind on the topic 'How reducing my waste will benefit the polar bear'.
In the senior section, Ballyclare High pupils from Year 8 and 9 spoke on the topic 'Big steps to a smaller footprint. How tackling waste can help reduce my carbon footprint'.
Mary McGinn, Waste and Recycling Assistant for the Council commented: "All the participants spoke very well in each category. It was clear that a lot of hard work went into researching the links between climate change and waste and how each of us can help tackle global warming."
The junior section first-prize winner was Naomi Ferris from Fairview Primary School. The senior section winner was Chelsea Jones from Ballyclare High School. Both winners will now represent the Borough at the regional finals in the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh on May 15.