Head of waste at Bexley honoured at Valpak Awards

The ceremony was held at Shakespeare's Globe on Bankside in London to showcase best practice and help to raise media awareness of some of the achievements and innovations being made in the fields of recycling, waste management, environmental awareness and carbon reduction.

Finalists came from a range of organisations and individuals from both the public and private sectors. Valpak felt it was important to identify commitment to the environment and showcase innovative solutions to complex environmental problems.

Mr Didsbury was recognised for his long-term achievements working as head of waste & street services in Bexley, in south-east London. The judges also recognised the consistent efforts shown by Islington council and created a new category to recognise this.

The evening was supported by award sponsors BPI Recycled Products, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Hammonds LLP, themanufacturer.com, Wincanton and recycle-more.co.uk, who were all on hand to congratulate the winners and present the awards they made possible.

Steve Gough, chief executive of Valpak Limited, said: “I am thrilled that, in these tough economic times, Valpak again received such a high standard of Award entries. It is pleasing to see that organisations and individuals are continuing to research and put into practice ways of reducing their impacts on our environment.”

Winners and guests enjoyed a meal in the theatre's Under Globe, followed by a presentation from scientist, television and radio presenter, Professor Heinz Wolff, who carried out a photographic experiment.

The award winners and runners-up were:

1. Best Investment of PRN Funds – sponsored by Wincanton
Winner – Greenstar WES Ltd – ‘Boosting Recycling of Food Grade and Awkward Plastics'
Runner-up – Novelis Recycling

2. Most Innovative Local Authority – sponsored by recycle-more.co.uk
Winner – London borough of Lewisham – ‘Eco-Street Project'
Runner-up – Canterbury city council

3. Best Partnership – sponsored by Hammonds LLP
Winner – West Dunbartonshire council – ‘Recycling in Flats to Help Meet Zero Waste Targets'
Runner-up – Cumbria Strategic Waste Partnership

4. Best School Environmental Awareness Campaign – sponsored by BPI Recycled Products
Winner – London borough of Bexley – ‘School's Waste Action Club'
Runner-up – Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd

5. Best Community Recycling Initiative – sponsored by themanufacturer.com
Winner – Cardiff council – ‘Food Waste – Schools'
Runner-up – Borough of Poole

6. Best Resource Management Project – sponsored by Coca-Cola Enterprises
Winner – Alara Wholefoods – ‘Becoming a Zero Waste Company'
Runner-up – Lenzing Fibers

7. Consistent Commitment to Developing Environmental Awareness & Sustainability – sponsored by Valpak Limited
Winner – Islington council – ‘Innovation in Waste Minimisation'

8. Valpak Award for Excellence – An individual recognition award
sponsored by Valpak Limited
Winner – Stephen Didsbury, head of waste & street services, the London borough of Bexley