Kay Twitchen awarded OBE for services to local government

Currently cabinet member for Environment, Heritage and Culture at Essex, Cllr Twitchen was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to local government.

Her many roles in the recycling and waste sector have included being chair of the Local Government Association's waste and environmental management executive until she stepped down this summer.

Cllr Kay Twitchen opening a new recycling centre in Canvey Island, with Castle Point mayor CS Smith (left) and Cllr Ray Howard (right)

Cllr Twitchen has also been chair of local market development agency ReMaDe Essex, a non-executive director of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), president of the Association for the Sustainable Use and Recovery of Resources in Europe and vice chair of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions’ Environment Committee.

More recently, Cllr Twitchen was appointed to DEFRA's Steering Committee to oversee the performance of its Waste Implementation Programme, and she was appointed to the board of the Environment Agency in September 2003 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Thrilled
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Cllr Twitchen said she was “absolutely thrilled” with the award but said it reflected the hard work all local authorities are doing in the field of recycling.

Cllr Twitchen said: “The award is recognition for the hard work that local authorities do, because these awards are not all that common for local authorities. And, it also shows that waste management is being seen as a serious issue now.”

Commenting on Kay Twitchen's OBE, letsrecycle.com editor Steve Eminton said: “Congratulations go to Kay for the honour, which is well-deserved. A champion of waste and recycling for many years, her hard work and knowledge about the issues have played a valuable part in raising the profile of recycling nationally as well as strengthening the Local Government Association's work in this area. Her recent appointment to the Environment Agency board means that her skills can be utilised further.”

An Essex councillor since 1989, Kay Twitchen is responsible for recycling in Essex, which is among the top five English counties for municipal waste recycling, with a rate of 23% in 2002-03.

Cllr Twitchen said she was now looking forward to the “exciting challenge” of her role on the board of the Environment Agency and in the New Year would also be concentrating on the process of setting Essex on course with its new 25-year waste strategy, which aims to increase recycling rates to 60% in the long term.