Ray Georgeson, policy director of the Waste and Resources Action Programme who judged the category, praised Wyecycle for reducing the landfill volumes in 1,000 homes in two Kent villages to 250kg per household. National rates are often one tonne per household per year.
Mr Georgeson said there was a need to “be passionate about the role of communities and community organisations in tackling the diversion of waste from landfill. Wye continues to confound the received wisdom. Waste is down to about 250kg per household – about one quarter of what is generated by the average household.”
Richard Boden of Wyecycle said he was delighted to win the award. On the 250kg figures, Mr Boden noted that the villages are in a “fairly upper middle class area” and that any waste taking to civic amenity sites by householders was not recorded in the 250kg figure.
Introducing the awards ceremony today, Biffaward chairman Martin Bettington, said they were a celebration of the success of the projects supported through the awards scheme. “We have now allocated 30m for 452 projects in just under four years.”
And, he said that Biffaward had anticipated government thinking in putting greater emphasis on giving funds to projects involved with sustainable waste management with 65% of allocations now going to this sector. But, he emphasises the important role of community projects.
The overall winner of this morning's event, was a study into resource usage and waste and recycling on the Isle of Wight. Biffaward gave a grant of 150,993 to part fund the study by Imperial College and the top prize was presented by Environment Minister Michael Meacher.
Mr Meacher praised the sheer range, ingenuity and innovativeness of the Biffaward projects. “These are exactly what the government would have wanted.” And, he said he was reassured to see how well the money was districtued. “I am please to see Biffaward will allocate funds in line proporals made in May.”
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