The awards recognise the dedication, success and achievements of local authority recycling officers and their teams and partners. They will be presented on the evening of October 17 at the Chesford Grange hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, following the first day of the annual LARAC conference.
This year saw a 17% increase in award entries for the LARAC Celebration Awards. The judges said they were impressed by the high quality and varied projects submitted this year despite budget cuts that many LARAC members have undergone.
Finalists this year include recycling officers from Cheshire, Islington and Oxfordshire as well as Caerphilly, Croydon and Vale of White Horse councils for their improved recycling rates.
Meanwhile entries shortlisted for the Best new idea category include a ReFashion event in Oxfordshire, reed bed recycling scheme in Stockton-on-Tees and, road sweepings recycling in Warwickshire.
Elsewhere the judges were impressed with innovative partnerships such as that between Warwickshire county council and the third sector for the management of its Household Waste Recycling Centres. Also in the category, the London Borough of Hackney joined forces with Radio 1 to help target a younger audience whilst Lancashire county council worked with a number of partners to develop a Bag For Lit a paper bag that library visitors can use to take books home with them.
There are still spaces available for the LARAC Conference and Celebration Awards 2012, book your place today at:
The awards span six categories and will be presented following a black tie dinner and drinks reception. LARAC 2011 is being organised by letsrecycle.com in association with UPM.
The years finalists are:
Best Communications Campaign Award, sponsored by UPM
- Islington Council: Compulsory Recycling Communications Campaign
- Recycle for London: Nice Save Campaign
- Stafford Borough Council: Message in a Bottle
Best Partnership Award, sponsored by Viridor
- Lancashire County Council: Bag for Literature
- London Borough of Hackney: Radio 1 Weekend, a Zero Waste Partnership
- Warwickshire County Council: Outsourcing HWRCs to Third Sector
Best Improved Recycling Rates (Target Success) Award, sponsored by FCC Environment
- Caerphilly County Borough Council
- Croydon Council
- Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils
Best Waste Minimisation or Prevention Project Award, sponsored by Repic
- Essex County Council: Waste Busters Volunteers Scheme
- North London Waste Programme 2011-12
- Staffordshire Recycling Partnership: Unwanted Mail Campaign
Recycling Officer of the Year Award, sponsored by Hadfield Wood Recyclers
- Claire Darbyshire: Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Jean Hughes: Islington Council
- Paul Mocroft: Oxfordshire Waste Partnership
Best New Idea, sponsored by Environcom
- Oxfordshire Waste Partnership: ReFashion
- Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council: Reed Bed Recycling
- Warwickshire County Council: Recycling Road Sweepings
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