We are all being encouraged to go green and recycle as much of our household waste as possible. Now it seems one York company director is determined to take the war on waste into the classroom.

Education reporter Haydn Lewis spoke to Chris Moss of York Warehouse at Elvington about a competition that could see one lucky school win a computer.

RECYCLING shouldn't be a dirty word, according to Chris Moss, director of Tucan Archive Storage in Elvington.

His company is launching a competition for schools across the city to come up with a logo which could possibly go on 200 recycling bins, which he hopes to see in use in schools in the New Year. The winning school would get a free computer.

"We are launching our competition in January, but we want schools to be thinking about it now in the run-up to Christmas," said Mr Moss.

"What we are looking to do is encourage more schools to put thought in to their recycling schemes and get the youngsters involved. So many schools already do a lot of recycling, but we want to help them step that up."

Tucan Archive Storage has been based on Elvington Industrial Estate for five years operating as a storage archive for City of York Council and carrying out office waste paper recycling for businesses across the city including York College.

Now the company wants to branch out in to recycling paper from schools and is currently negotiating a contract with City of York Council to provide 200 bins to schools across the city.

The company sells the paper by the tonne to Hull-based Riverside Recycling, and Mr Moss said schools could potentially earn money from recycling their paper.

Mr Moss said: "A school could generate between ten and 15 tonnes of waste paper in a week, which could make them between £150 and £200."

Any schools which are interested in taking part in the logo designing competition can get in touch with Mr Moss on 01904 607733 or email info@youcanwithtucan.com

Alternatively write to Chris Moss at Units B5 - B7, Elvington Industrial Estate, York Road, Elvington, York YO41 4AR.

Many schools in York are part of SWAC - the Schools Waste Action Club - an initiative run by City of York Council which goes in to primary and secondary schools giving themed lessons and assemblies on environmental issues.

The council also provides a free paper recycling service to schools and all schools can ask for a free composting bin to encourage recycling of kitchen and garden waste.

In July, the Evening Press reported how pupils at 44 York schools recycled more than 48 tonnes of paper during the past financial year.

Most schools in the city now recycle paper, enabling young people to learn about the impact of waste on the environment.

In October, about 120 pupils from St Oswald's Primary School spent a day learning about recycling and how to be greener when the council's Konflux Theatre Company visited.

The group used a white board to show how climate change had affected various parts of the globe.

Deputy head teacher Malcolm Murphy said: "The youngsters really enjoyed themselves. It was a fun day and the event was totally interactive whilst being educational at the same time."

Earlier this year, pupils in 20 schools across the city had the chance to see the drama, called What On Earth?

It told the story of an alien called Colin, sent to Earth to minimise waste and stop the planet being demolished for a UFO car park.

Konflux Theatre In Education performed the play with funds from York council's waste strategy unit, the Environment Agency, British Sugar, and York Pride and Design, Conservation and Sustainable Development.

Updated: 10:11 Wednesday, November 30, 2005