Sustainability and Recycling Awards winners announced
Birmingham's 'green' champions celebrated success at the city's first Sustainability and Recycling Awards ceremony, held at the Council House's Banqueting Suite today (18 July).
Local businesses, community groups, schools and individuals were among those recognised by Birmingham City Council for their work in reducing, re-using and recycling waste.
Birmingham office of engineering firm Mott McDonald was named the overall winner, for a range of energy reduction schemes which save money and reduce the company's carbon footprint, which included using kinetic flooring to turn employees' footsteps into electricity.
Other winners included:
- The NEC, who saved more than £324,000 in land tax by recycling more than 1,000 tonnes of waste materials in 2013.
- Warehouse Café which recycles all it can from food to furniture to reduce waste, and uses energy generated via its solar panels.
- Brandwood and Cocksmoor Sheltered Housing Scheme in King's Heath, where a garden was created to encourage residents to grow their own flowers or vegetables.
- St John & Monica Catholic School in Moseley, where pupils wrote and performed a play to promote the need to reuse, reduce and recycle waste.
The awards ceremony, hosted by radio and TV presenter Elliot Webb and sponsored by Veolia Environmental Services, highlighted a wide range of projects carried out by organisations and individuals who are dedicated to protecting the environment and its natural resources.
Cllr Lisa Trickett, Cabinet Member for a Green, Safe and Sustainable City, said: “Birmingham City Council is keen to formally recognise those who work tirelessly to protect the environment and contribute to the city's recycling and green agenda.
“These awards allow us to celebrate some of the best work in the city and hopefully inspire other citizens to set up their own projects to protect the environment.
“It's great to see such a diverse range of projects enter for this year's awards, as it shows that messages around recycling and sustainability are being heard and heeded.”
More than 70 entries were received for 16 awards across four categories: Best Waste and Recycling Scheme, Best Staff and Community Scheme, Best Energy Reduction Scheme, and Best Food and Growing Scheme. Each category included awards for business, education, restaurant and community or individual entries.
ENDS
Media contact: Emma Brady, Press and PR Officer 0121 303 6969 or email [email protected]
Notes to editors:
The Recycling and Sustainability Awards are open to businesses, educational establishments, community groups and individuals to highlight their often unsung efforts to be cleaner, greener and smarter in using, recycling and preserving natural resources.
Photos available for download here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/birminghamnewsroom/sets/72157645747260751/
Winners
Best Waste and Recycling Scheme
- Business: The NEC
- Education: Aston University
- Restaurant: Warehouse Cafe
- Community / Individual: Birmingham BMX Racetrack
Best Staff and Community Scheme
- Business: SCC
- Education: St John & Monica Catholic School, Moseley
- Restaurant: McDonald's, Yardley Wood
- Community / Individual: Life Uplifted by Change In Africa (LUCIA), University of Birmingham
Best Energy Reduction Scheme
- Business: Mott MacDonald Ltd
- Education: mac Birmingham
- Restaurant: Warehouse Café
- Community / Individual: Northfield Eco Centre
Best Food and Growing Scheme
- Business: Indoor Eden
- Education: Let's Grow Together,
- Restaurant: Fiesta del Asado,
- Community / Individual: Brandwood and Cocksmoor Sheltered Housing Scheme
Overall winner: Mott MacDonald Ltd
