< First time round, the award was won by May Gurney's Swinton office and the Rowan Tree was planted at Cavendish Road Primary School

Second environmental award from National Grid

May Gurney Utility Services has won a second National Grid Rowan Tree environmental award - this time for its successful trench soil recycling initiative.

The monthly Rowan Tree Award is open to all National Grid Gas contractors involved in construction projects and gas transmission and distribution works across the UK. The November 2006 award went to May Gurney's Manchester-based gas team.

"If you multiply the cost, safety and environmental improvements across all the networks the benefits grow dramatically"

Craig Horrocks

Every year, National Grid excavates thousands of holes while repairing and renewing gas mains - and spends millions of pounds transporting excavating material to landfill, and reinstating holes with expensive aggregate.

May Gurney and National Grid Gas UK Distribution have successfully trialled a recycling solution using SMR (Structured Material for Reinstatement) to refill holes with the excavated material. SMR bonds with the spoil, enabling it to be quickly returned to the hole.

National Grid's Craig Horrocks said: "If you multiply the cost, safety and environmental improvements (from the trial) across all the networks, the benefits grow dramatically. We want to share our knowledge and the lessons with May Gurney for everyone in National Grid."

Under the rules of the awards, the Rowan Tree may be donated to a local school or community group. First time round the award went to May Gurney's Swinton office, and the tree was planted at Cavendish Road Primary School in Swinton. A decision will be made shortly on where the second tree will be planted.

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