Winners unveiled at the Wales Recycling Awards (22.09.11)

Recycling and Reuse pioneers are celebrating success at the Wales’s Recycling Awards held last night (Sept 21) in Llandudno.

 

Cycle Training Wales won the Innovation award, Cwm Harry Land Trust is crowned Community Recycler of the Year and Bridgend County Borough Council picked up the Local Authority Partnership Award. 

 

Outstanding Contribution Awards went to Lynda Davies, CEO of Too Good To Waste and Christine Thomas, Newport City Council.

 

Cycle Training Wales are a Cardiff based charity that promotes cycling through community activities. Their Cycle Training Workshop was set up in 2010 and collects unwanted bicycles that are refurbished and then resold to members of the public and community organisations. Since the project began over 230 bicycles have been refurbished by four members of staff and over 20 volunteers. 

 

Cwm Harry provide recycling services and operate the very successful kerbside recycling scheme to 1,200 householders in the Presteigne and Norton area of Powys. The Zero Waste scheme, funded by the Welsh Government, has already achieved a 67% recycling rate with all money for the sale of materials put back into the community. 

The scheme has collected 380 tonnes of recycling since it began operating in 2010 and looks set to hit 80% recycling with the introduction of clear and blue bags for residual waste.

 

Bridgend Council needed to meet recycling targets and have been in partnership with May Gurney to deliver improved and efficient waste collection services for residents. Since delivering a kerbside recycling service, the borough has hit a 50 % recycling rate and become one of the best performing local authorities in Wales.

The successful partnership has resulted in cost effective recycling for both householders and Bridgend Council who have seen efficiency savings of over £1 million.

 

Lynda Davies has been working for Porth based furniture recycling organisation Too Good to Waste for over 16 years. As CEO, Lynda has committed herself to providing community regeneration through waste minimisation for the benefit of Rhondda Cynon Taf residents.Too Good to Waste gives people from all different backgrounds volunteering and training opportunities to assist their personal development. 

 

Christine Thomas from Newport Council’s Waste Management Division has worked tirelessly in her role to provide education and promotion of recycling, enforcement and fly tipping. Christine’s efforts were recognised in 2010 when she won an award from Newport Council for her outstanding work in developing relationships with local schools and emergency services.

 

John Griffiths, Environment Minister said:

 

“These Awards demonstrate the wealth of excellent community recycling and reuse groups operating in Wales and highlight the positive impact that these groups have within the communities they serve. They also highlight yet again the many economic, social and environmental benefits of increased recycling.

 

“I congratulate all the award winners on their success and would like to thank them for their continuing hard work. I hope these awards will encourage people all over Wales to support their local community recycling or reuse group.”

 

 

Wales Recycling Awards 2011 are run by Cylch, Wales’ Community Recycling Network.

 

Winners are as follows:

 

Katy Anderson, katy@cwmharry.org.uk 01686 626234/ 07876 703583 

 

Andrew Burns, Andrew@cycletrainingwales.org.uk, 02920 397283 

 

Michelle Bower, michelle.bower@bridgend.gov.uk 

 

Lynda Davies, Too Good To Waste: 01443 680 090

 

Christine Thomas, Newport City Council: 01633 656656