A leading public sector institution has won top honours at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Awards for Environmental Excellence, which recognise and reward best practice in the sustainable management of waste and resources and reduction of environmental impact.

HMYOI Wetherby won the Sustainable Facilities Management Performance of the Year award against stiff competition. The award was announced at an event held at the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane on 31 October 2007.  The ceremony was hosted by BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth and the judges included Dr Liz Goodwin, chief executive of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Trevor Hay of the Health and Safety Executive and John Ingham, environment editor of the Daily Express.

Steve Lee, chief executive of the CIWM, said:  “If we are going to see real change in the way we manage our resources, including waste, every part of society has to be engaged. These awards recognise the efforts being made by public and private sector organisations across a range of industries to implement a more sustainable approach to waste and resource management, to reduce the environmental impact of their operations and to develop new products and practices that deliver a better environmental performance. We are also recognising individual ‘recycling champions’ who have made an outstanding personal contribution through work in their local communities.”

HMYOI Wetherby impressed the judges with its recycling success. The young offender’s institution has managed to divert 61 per cent of its waste away from landfill in the past four years, including 177 tonnes a year of biological municipal waste, and has saved over £250,000 in the process.  The judges praised the training and education measures employed, adding that the initiative demonstrated “clear targets and objectives”, an important factor in its success.

The presentation was made to representatives of HMYOI Wetherby by Berian Griffiths, a director at award sponsor Biffa.

Steve Lee added:  “Our awards provide an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of, and reward, best practice. The standard of entries was very high, and the judging panel has had to make some tough decisions. My congratulations to HMYOI Wetherby, to all today’s winners and also to all those companies and individuals who entered and reached the finals – every contribution in the battle to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency is important.”    

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Issued on behalf of the CIWM by Smye Holland Associates

For further information contact:

Debbie Chivers or Mike Holland
Smye Holland Associates
Tel: 01733 564906
Fax: 01733 562051
E-mail: debbiec@smye-holland.com

Pat Jennings
CIWM Communications Office
Tel: 01604 620426
E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk