UK organisations, local authorities, community groups and individual recycling pioneers were honoured at the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management 2014. The prestigious annual ceremony, organised by letsrecycle.com, took place at the Landmark Hotel in London yesterday (1 May).
This year's event received the largest number of entries to date, up 44% from 2013, demonstrating the growing importance of the recycling and waste management sector. ITV newsreader Julie Etchingham hosted the event, and representatives from the sponsors of each category revealed the winners of the 11 highly-acclaimed Awards - widely acknowledged as the industry's equivalent to the Oscars.
Julie Etchingham announced that the experienced panel of judges, chaired by John Woodruff, Chairman of the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers and Head of Waste Services at the London Borough of Bromley, had decided the following entrants were worthy of the highest accolades:
ZERO WASTE PLATINUM AWARD, sponsored by SAICA Natur and Wastecare
Winner - KP Snacks
RETAIL RECYCLING CHAMPION - charity partner, British Heart Foundation
Winner - Westfield Stratford City in partnership with Wastesolve
CIRCULAR ECONOMY SUCCESS, sponsored by Brocklesby
Winner - ECO Plastics, Lincolnshire
WASTE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE IN THE COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC SECTOR, sponsored by Taylor
Winner - Marks & Spencer in partnership with Helistrat
DESIGN OF A WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY, sponsored by Recycling Registration Service in association with the Environmental Services Association
Winner - Calder Vale Road Household Waste and Recycling Centre, Wakefield Council
THE BEST COMMUNITY RECYCLING INITIATIVE, sponsored by DHL Envirosolutions
Winner - Bulky Bob's Crisis Furniture Scheme, Liverpool
RECYCLING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Ceris Burns International
Winner - The William Tracey Group, Glasgow
COLLECTION CREW OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Geesinknorba
Winner - RC8, Croydon Council
CIVIC AMENITY SITE OF THE YEAR, sponsored by Repic
Winner - Northwich Household Waste Recycling Centre, Cheshire West and Chester Council
THE BEST LOCAL AUTHORITY RECYCLING INITIATIVE, sponsored by Aylesford Newsprint
Winner - Belfast Inner City Recycling Initiative, Belfast City Council
LOCAL AUTHORITY RECYCLING CHAMPION, sponsored by Biffa
Winner - Jessica Bunker, London Borough of Ealing
Steve Eminton from Environment Media Group said: "The event proved an exciting day and gave a chance for all guests to reflect on the recycling and waste management progress that has been achieved over the past 12 months.
"The standard of entries this year - our eleventh Awards for Excellence celebration - was undoubtedly the highest we've ever seen. We sincerely congratulate every organisation and individual who was acknowledged as a 2014 finalist, because that is an incredible achievement in itself. The judges had a very difficult task selecting the winners.
"But those winners deserve great praise for their achievements - they have proved an unswerving commitment to the UK's sustainability agenda and a forward-thinking approach to ensuring long-term recycling and waste management success. I look forward to seeing what further developments unfold between now and our 2015 Awards for Excellence campaign."
To find out more about the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management, please visit www.awardsforexcellence.co.uk.