Eight individuals, including a pre-school principal, the founder of a green-talk series, and a youth leader in a movement to keep Singapore clean, will receive this year's EcoFriend awards for their environmental-sustainability work.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Sept 24, the National Environment Agency said on Monday. They are being given out for the seventh time since 2007. Winners were picked for their altruism, the breadth and depth of their contributions, and their leadership potential. The eight were selected from 419 nominees this year.

Among this year's recipients was Ms Susan Tan, 48, zone principal of several Kinderland preschools. Pre-school pupils at the Kinderland centres she oversees learn not to litter, and learn about recycling by making crafts like lanterns from recycled cardboard and toilet paper rolls. She also sends notices to parents electronically rather than on paper, halving paper use.

Another recipient is Miss Olivia Choong, 34, who since 2007 has run Green Drinks, and organisation that holds a series of talks and networking sessions featuring representatives from Government, non-government groups, academia, and industry on topics from recycling to wind energy to haze.

The other award winners are Mr Desmond Chua, general manager of Keppel Club; Mr Eden Liew, principal of the Institute of Technical Education College East; Ms Regina Chong, chair of the Kim Seng community centre youth executive committee; Ms Lee Qian Yi, membership secretary of the Ci Yuan community centre youth executive committee; and Mr Lee Jun Wei, executive committee member of the National Youth Achievement Award gold award holders alumni.