WORCESTER youngsters are invited to go green to help Tesco promote the benefits of recycling in their community.

A green 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 store in St Peter’s, Worcester.

And local primary schoolchildren could win £500 for their school and £100 for one lucky youngster before Christmas if they come up with a special 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 recycling centre at a special ribbon cutting ceremony.

The 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 making it quicker, easier and more convenient for shoppers.

Tesco has already installed 44 machines, which shoppers can drive right up to, but that number is set to rise to more than 100 by next year. The all-in-one recycling centre will complement existing recycling facilities on site such as separate units for the removal of cardboard, shoes and newspaper.

The state-of-the-art £150,000 machine, designed by Scandinavian engineers, will also ‘talk’ to customers through a combination of audio and visual guidance on a screen.

Tesco spokesperson Louise Goodland said: “With nine out of 10 people saying they would recycle if it were easier to do so, Tesco is constantly looking for ways to make the process as effortless as possible. The new machine will make recycling fun, quick and easy to do. More than 68 million items were processed this year and the existing machines have exceeded all our expectations.”

The new recycling centre will be installed shortly when details of the launch event and winning school will be announced.