News & Media > Environmental Services
04:11:2011
Gold gong at PR Oscars
Bridgend County Borough Council was awarded gold in the public sector category at the 2011 CIPR Cymru PRide Awards ceremony on 28 October. The award was in recognition of efforts to increase awareness and participation in its weekly recycling scheme, delivered by May Gurney.
Bridgend Council and May Gurney have worked closely with local media to communicate the changes to recycling collections since the new scheme was launched in June 2010. Initiatives have included direct mailing to residents and a series of newspaper and radio adverts on the theme of ‘recycle for victory', to help households understand the best way to recycle, and why this is important.
The Pride Awards' judges were impressed by the the partners' efforts which have seen Bridgend move from being one of the worst performing authorities for recycling in Wales to one of the best.
The PRide gold award is the latest in a series of awards for Bridgend's recycling scheme. It recently won a public vote to top the Local Authority Partnership category of Cylch's Wales Recycling Awards. Earlier this year the scheme won a Green Apple Award and reached the final of the APSE Awards. It has also been short listed for the EDIE Awards for Environmental Excellence.
Councillor Phil White, BCBC's cabinet member for communities, said: “To win any industry award is wonderful and a tribute to the hard work of those involved, but let's not forget this is really about our residents.
“It's thanks to their efforts that we are recycling more than ever and diverting so much waste away from landfill. It's really pleasing to see how households have responded so positively to the changes introduced and that they and we are being recognised for this.”
Owain Griffiths, Bridgend contract manager for May Gurney, said: “We are very proud to have won this award in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council; it is always rewarding to be acknowledged for our efforts to tackle environmental issues in our work.
"As councillor White says, the award is direct recognition of the support of Bridgend's residents for the recycling scheme. As well as the residents, the collection operatives deserve sincere thanks for all their hard work – without them the scheme could never be as successful.”
Click here to read more about May Gurney's work in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council.
