Awards for 74 green schools.

Byline: OWEN HUGHES 

PUPILS in Gwynedd have been rewarded for being so environmentally-friendly.

Some 74 schools have been handed Gwynedd Green School status by the county council.

Ten more schools are ready to apply for the mark.

Seventeen schools have already achieved gold status in the scheme.

Cllr Gareth Roberts, who leads on environmental issues on Gwynedd Council, said: "It's wonderful to see the children and young people of Gwynedd taking real interest in the environment - they are setting a good example to the rest of us throughout the county.

"This scheme allows children to discuss issues such as global warming, what we do with our waste and other problems society must solve.

"We aspire to creating a society which works together for the sake of the environment. The truth is that children and young people play a key role in setting the agenda for our local communities."

To achieve this status, schools must:. prove that they are able to reduce how much waste the school produces. reduce energy and resource consumption. prevent pollution. care for the local environment. be conscious of the environmental impact of travelling.

Schools work towards gold, silver and bronze awards.