Green-Schools Ireland (An Taisce) - county Green Flag awards
Ireland's national Eco-Schools programme, co-run by An Taisce and individual county councils. Schools work through themed Green Flags (litter, energy, water, biodiversity, travel, global citizenship) over 2-year cycles, with county council prizes and ceremonies.
Each county council runs its own Green Flag ceremony and tally (e.g. Cork's 62 schools, Laois's 11 schools) - press coverage frames it as county-vs-county pride for the most flags per capita.
Within each county, the council provides a coordinator who connects schools to share waste contractors, biodiversity surveyors and parent volunteers - schools in the same county actively help each other reach the flag.
Distinct under-mentioned variant of Eco-Schools because the COUNTY COUNCIL is the unit of pride and coordination, not the individual school - a real geographic-area dynamic baked in.
Others in the same family
Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel (formerly Big Pedal)
UK's largest inter-school active-travel challenge run by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (Sustrans). For two weeks, schools log every walked, wheeled, scooted or cycled journey via a school portal; a school's best five days determine final position on a national leaderboard, with badges and certificates.
Britain in Bloom (RHS)
RHS-run national tiered competition: 1,600+ UK communities (villages, towns, suburbs, neighbourhoods) compete at local, regional then national level on three pillars: Horticultural Excellence, Environmental Responsibility, Community Participation. Volunteers are colloquially 'bloomers'.
Mégocup Sport Planète
A 2-hour simultaneous cigarette-butt collection 'sport' challenge where French cities mobilize teams to beat a shared world record. Includes recycling pipeline via TchaoMégot.
WOW - the Walk to School Challenge (Living Streets)
Pupils log their daily mode of travel on the WOW Travel Tracker; those who actively travel at least once a week for a month earn a themed collectable badge (recycled plastic, made in Cornwall). Schools achieve 59% fewer car journeys and 18% more walking on average.
Future City Competition (DiscoverE)
Middle-school teams design a future sustainable city (essay, scale model, presentation) addressing a yearly challenge (e.g. waste-free, climate adaptation). Runs through regional competitions feeding a national/international final.
Schools Recycle Right Challenge (Planet Ark) + Battle of the Schools
Planet Ark's National Recycling Week schools programme provides activity guides and event ideas; in regions like Hervey Bay (QLD) Express Recycling runs a Battle of the Schools where schools compete by weight collected with $500 cash prizes.