The award, presented this week by television sports presenter Gabby Logan, formed the culmination of the first year of Shotton's “Race to Recycle” campaign.
Launched 12 months ago (see letsrecycle.com story), the annual campaign puts 1 for every tonne of paper collected in the city of Manchester into a prize fund for local authorities. Over 30,000 was raised in the first year of the campaign, which will go to local authorities to spend on environmental improvement projects.
 Cllr Joyce Acton (center) with Martin Gale, MD, UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd, and Gabby Logan |
Trafford won this year's contest for improving its paper recycling by 34%. Picking up the award, Councillor Joyce Acton, executive member for waste management at Trafford, said: “I’m thrilled to accept this award on behalf of the residents of Trafford who have done a sterling job in recycling their paper over the past year. We will now consult with our residents in order to decide how to spend our prize money on a scheme of social and environmental benefit for our community, ensuring a long-lasting tribute for Trafford’s recycling result.”
Bolton council came second, taking home 9,000 for the success of its kerbside collection service, which now reaches 90% of residents. Bury took third place with a 6,000 award recognising the 30% growth in its paper recycling rate.
Commitment
Greater Manchester currently produces about 1.4 million tonnes of waste each year, and has a recycling rate of 7%, less than half the national average. Speaking at the Race to Recycle awards, Martin Gale, managing director of UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd, the parent company of Shotton Paper, said that the Race to Recycle campaign is an important measure in trying to raise the city's recycling rates.
He said: “Race to Recycle is one of many initiatives where we are working with local authorities and waste paper companies to foster a ‘recycling culture’. It encourages participation in paper collection schemes through a strong financial commitment to the areas involved.”
He added: “We aim to more than triple the amount of paper recycled across Greater Manchester by 2010. With 1 for every tonne collected, this promises to bring a larger windfall every year to fund projects that will bring social and environmental improvements to the local communities.”
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