A high school student has finished as runner-up in a competition to name Newry and Mourne's new waste management project.

Upon completion the project will create new waste management facilities that will allow the district council to meet landfill reduction targets set by central government and the EU.

Failure to meet these targets will result in significant fines being levied across the region, which will ultimately be passed on to the ratepayer.

Created by the Southern Waste Management Partnership (SWaMP2008) the naming competition has increased school children's knowledge of waste issues and the impact that it has on the environment, the council said.

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"As this project will benefit the local community for many years to come, we want to give young people the opportunity to become involved in it, right at the start," said Graham Byrne, Operational Director with SWaMP2008.

"It is an excellent vehicle through which we can teach schoolchildren about the importance of managing our waste in a safe and sustainable manner," he continued.

Kilkeel pupil Arnold McCullough came up with the original M.O.R.E (Managing Our Rubbish Economically) project name and how it would help encourage people to take responsibility for their waste.

For finishing runner-up in the competition Arnold was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a selection of environmental goodies including a fair trade football, drumstick pencils and rescued paper notepad.

(PR/BMcC)