Recycling is primary for schools competing in competition during National Volunteer Week in Whanganui

Chantelle Pedley and Brett Mitchell holding some recyclable goods at Arahunga Special School. Photo / Supplied

If you have ever seen a large group of children picking up litter and piling it into bags in your favourite walking area, they might be students of Arahunga Special School.

The school is committed to keeping its grounds and all of Whanganui as clean as possible and do so by recycling every week.

National Volunteer Week runs from June 17 until June 23 and as part of it Volunteer Whanganui is running a recycling is primary competition.

Arahunga Special School was one of the first to confirm participation in the competition, which will see students create a video about how to reduce plastic in their school.

Line manager of transition at Arahunga Special School Yvonne Bieleski said recycling is something they do regardless of competition.

"We recycle all of our cardboard, milk bottles and plastics and we have recycle Friday, where we collect all of those things up and take them down to recycling.

"It's important to us because we need to look after our environment and be responsible about our waste."

Arahunga students have not yet begun work on their video and Bieleski was tight-lipped on what they might produce.

Participating schools are required to upload their videos to the MoreFM Facebook page throughout volunteer week for a chance at winning some prizes.

They include a Lenovo laptop, a set of recycling bins, sustainable shopping bags and two $100 gift vouchers for Countdown.

"The prizes are a bonus, to be honest, they're not our focus, our focus is on sending out the message that recycling is important," Bieleski said.

"I couldn't even tell you what the prizes are, they aren't at the forefront of my mind."

Some students at Arahunga also get the chance to help at the Wanganui Resource Recovery Centre on a Monday.

"We have a support worker and a couple of our transition students go down and help to sort through the recycling and make sure it's in the right containers," Bieleski said.

"They are wonderful with our young people, very encouraging and supportive.

"I'm pleased they gave us the opportunity because it's a way for us to give back to our community."

So far Arahunga Special School, Tawhero School, St George's School and Keith St School have confirmed their participation in recycling is primary.