Anniversary Awards for Excellence entries invited

The awards, which are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, are organised by letsrecycle.com, are the leading celebration of achievements in the waste management and recycling sector, honouring efforts from the private, public and third sectors.

To enter, simply choose the appropriate category and submit your submission with appropriate supporting evidence.

In association with Palm Recycling, this years Awards for Excellence are taking place on May 16 2013 at the Landmark Hotel in London near Marylebone Station. The Awards are preceded by a champagne reception, sponsored by Wastepack, and a three course meal.

Presented by glamorous BBC Breakfast host Suzanne Reid, the day time event features 11 award categories across waste management and recycling.

Among the Awards categories are Local Authority Recycling Champion which recognises the councillor of council officer which has achieved a high level of success in driving up waste recycling rates. Last year, the award was scooped by Phil Chadwick, education and promotion officer for Warrington borough council.

Elsewhere, the Collection Crew of the Year Award recognises the dedication by a collection crew and the Best Community Recycling Initiative is aimed at honouring the work of the third sector and social enterprises.

This year also features a new category, the Zero Waste Platinum Award which offers organisations further opportunities to be acknowledged as leaders in reducing waste to landfill. To be shortlisted for this award, an entry must be submitted to letsrecycle.coms Zero Waste Awards.

The full list of award categories is:

• High Street Recycling Champion;
• Commercial Recycling Champion;
• Waste Management Initiative in the Commercial and Public Sector sponsored by PHS Group plc;
• Innovation in Design of a Waste Management Facility;
• Collection Crew of the Year sponsored by Geesinknorba;
• The Best Community Recycling Initiative sponsored by DHL Envirosolutions;
• Recycling Business of the Year;
• Civic Amenity Site of the Year sponsored by Repic;
• The Best Local Authority Recycling Initiative sponsored by Palm Recycling;
• Local Authority Recycling Champion;
• Zero Waste Platinum Award sponsored by SaicaNatur and WasteCare.co.uk

Entries will be judged by a panel drawn from across the waste and recycling sector. The judges are: Craig Anderson, chief executive of Furniture Reuse Network; Jeff Cooper, vice president of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA); Steve Eminton, editor at letsrecycle.com; Simon Ellin, chief executive for The Recycling Association; Matthew Farrow; director of policy at the Environmental Services Association; John Woodruff, chairman of the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers; and, Dr Kiara Zennaro, senior technical officer for the REAs Organics Recycling Group.

10th anniversary

The Awards for Excellence have been running for ten years. The first Awards in 2004 were unveiled by environment minister at the time Elliot Morley who praised the passion and enthusiasm within the recycling sector (see letsrecycle.com story). BBC newsreader Darren Jordan presented the winners with their awards.

Commenting on the Awards, Steve Eminton said: The industry has taken great strides to improve in its management of waste and recycling since the Awards for Excellence were launched in 2004. Back then, we were celebrating national recycling rates of 17%. I am pleased to say that since then a vast improvement has been made by councils, businesses and community groups in the way they handle their waste.

The Awards for Excellence 2013 are a real opportunity to praise the efforts of the public, private and third sectors over the past 12 months. I look forward to some of the innovative ideas and initiatives in the entries.

For more information on this years awards or to submit an entry please visit the Awards for Excellence website.