A campaign, which helped boost recycling rates in Rother has become the first campaign outside of the waste and recycling industry to be nominated for a major advertising award.
The "Love Rother Love Recycling" campaign was selected from over 280 entries to become one of four finalists in the prestigious Creative East Awards and the first ever from the recycling industry.
The annual awards which were set up to recognise creative achievement in the Eastern region, selected the public awareness campaign promoting Rother District Council's new kerbside recycling service.
The "Love Rother Love Recycling" campaign, developed by Essex based communication agency, EnviroComms was one the finalists in the "Best Advertising Campaign" category.
The awards recognise quality in a wide range of creative services from web design through to TV production from companies based in the Eastern Region, now regarded as the leading creative hub in the UK outside of London.
Stephen Bates, Director of Communications at EnviroComms was delighted to become the first ever recycling campaign to make the finals. He said: "Any campaign is only as good as the client. Rother put their faith in us and let us do what they appointed us to do. The results speak for themselves.
"To be selected from such a high quality batch of entries by your peers is very humbling. This is the first time we have entered any awards so to get this far on our first attempt is a fantastic achievement and a great confidence booster to our creative team."
The campaign, which was launched last year helped Rother's recycling rate jump from 16% to nearly 40% within three months, with zero contamination while helping the council overcome key operational obstacles related to the roll-out of the new scheme.
Alan Dodge, Rother District Council's Contract Services Manager said: "The new recycling service was the biggest service change ever undertaken by the council and the campaign to promote it was the largest communication project we had undertaken. It was a nervous time all round but EnviroComms' professional manner, enthusiasm and delivery was always a reassurance. We quickly realised the communications was one less thing to worry about. We're delighted with the outcome and proud that the campaign has gained such an accolade."
EnviroComms' reputation continues to grow both in the UK and overseas. The agency has recently announced plans to open offices in Eastern Europe and further a field.