Recycling Awards for 'Amazing' Bexley
Bexley Council was hailed as "amazing" and "brave" after four successes at the 2006 National Recycling Awards held in Bournemouth. The borough won awards for all the categories it entered.
Cllr. Gareth Bacon, Bexley Cabinet Member for the Environment says: "Bexley is fortunate to have a team of first class officers and the recognition they have received is richly deserved. It re-affirms to industry professionals, local authorities and residents that Bexley remains at the forefront in embracing the challenges and developing innovative solutions for sustainable waste management. Bexley is currently achieving the highest recycling rate of any London borough."
The categories and awards in which Bexley achieved success were:
- Best Local Authority Initiative - Winner, Bexley Council. This award was for Bexley's Sikh Gurdwara Recycling Initiative. Judges also commended Bexley for expanding its recycling schemes to other places of worship and community halls in the borough.
Bexley's winning Sikh Gurdwara recycling initiative really stood out for the judges. "It is a great initiative and a brave thing to do," they said.
With a population of almost 3,000 Sikhs, Bexley saw the potential of targeting the community in its main gathering place to promote waste minimisation and increase recycling rates.
Many of the Sikhs in Bexley use the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara (temple) for worship and, in line with Sikh teachings, the gurdwara also runs a free kitchen seven days a week. Most of the waste created in the kitchen, such as milk bottles, food cans, cardboard boxes, glass jars and vegetable peelings, had been going straight into the general waste bins. But following the installation of recycling facilities, it is estimated that the gurdwara now recycles about 80% of its waste.
Gurdwara elders saw that the Sikh principles of a protective and loving guardianship towards the Earth could be aligned with the principles of recycling, and allowed the Council to install recycling containers for paper and cardboard, plastic bottles and cans, mixed glass jars and bottles and food waste. The judges praised the innovative scheme for helping to make the area's Sikh community more aware of recycling at home, school and work.
The Council has also installed recycling facilities in the local Belvedere Community Centre, and the judges commended Bexley for expanding the scheme to other places of worship and community halls in the borough.
- Lifetime Achievement Award - Stephen Didsbury, Bexley Council. Stephen has been with Bexley for 20 years and has recently been promoted to Head of Waste and Street Services. During Stephen's time at Bexley, the recycling rate has increased from 0.5% to 38%. His innovative approach to waste management coupled with Bexley's Double Beacon Status for Waste Management, have ensured that Stephen and Bexley are widely recognised as leaders in the waste management field.
Nicknamed the 'waste guru' by his team, colleagues describe Stephen as "a committed and supportive leader who always has the interests of his team at heart".
Stephen was responsible for setting up Bexley's first kerbside recycling scheme for paper more than 11 years ago and, since then, he has introduced collections for glass, plastics, cans and kitchen and garden waste.
- Recycling Officer of the Year Award - Finalist (Highly Commended) - Rebecca Goodwin, Bexley Council. The judges noted that Rebecca was instrumental in introducing Bexley's electrical recycling schemes ahead of legislation and that she co-ordinated the Pan-London Real Nappy campaign and is secretary of the London Recycling Officers' Group.
Rebecca was praised by the judges for her work with Bexley's Sikh community. "It's not easy to work with entirely different cultures and her work with the Sikh community is definitely something to be credited," they said.
They noted that Rebecca had drafted Bexley's 2006-2011 waste management strategy and played a leading role in helping Bexley achieve Beacon status for waste and recycling.
- Award for Electrical and Electronic Recycler of the Year - Finalist, Bexley Council. Judges commented that "the Bexley site is amazing, if it can be collected, they collect it". Bexley was one of only four local authorities to be recognised in this category.
Separate containers and waste bays are available at Bexley's R&R centres for small electrical, large electrical and traditional metal-only goods. This enables site visitors and staff to easily distinguish the correct container.
