A CHAIN of nurseries that attracted national headlines for banning glitter is running a competition to find ways to reuse or recycling it.

Bournemouth-based Tops Day Nurseries banned glitter last year because the microplastic harms the environment.

It has been working with its waste contractors, Biffa and the Resource South Ltd, to find sustainable ways of destroying glitter.

Biffa has accepted glitter as general waste to be burned for energy, but Tops says this is a “last resort”.

It does not want glitter going back to the distributors for sale to other nurseries and schools, so has set up a competition to find ways to “reuse, recycle, repurpose or upcycle” it.

Businesses, colleges, scientists and anyone who can “think outside the box” are being invited to contribute their ideas.

These could include incorporating glitter into a permanent feature that is useful of memorable, since all glitter lasts for around 400 years. Anyone with glitter at home or work that they want to dispose of responsibly is invited to send it to be put to good use throughout the competition and afterwards.

The prize is a £50 voucher, with three £25 vouchers for runners-up, plus plenty of glitter for a pilot business project, as well as support from Tops Day Nurseries’ founder and managing director, Cheryl Hadland.

Applications of up to 400 words should be submitted by April 30 to admin@topsdaynurseries.co.uk, with the subject line “GlitterBan”. For more information, call Tops Day Nurseries on 01202 551553 or email admin@topsdaynurseries.co.uk. Applications forms will be in a blog post at topsdaynurseries.co.uk