Green Campaigns Win International Awards
Wednesday, 08 November 2017
Two initiatives to encourage recycling and sustainability have been recognised in the international Green Apple Environment Awards.
Worcester City Council and the University of Worcester, who worked together on the initiatives, picked up the prestigious prizes during a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament.
An initiative to encourage students to recycle more scored a Green Apple prize in the Local Authority category. The City Council worked with University students to produce white recycling bags which featured eye-catching information on what materials can be recycled in Worcester.
The bags were distributed free of charge to rented student houses. Students were encouraged to use them to collect recyclable waste in their homes and then take it outside to put in the green bin.
The University and the Council won their second Green Apple award for the Go Green Week activities, held at Easter. This saw University students and Council officers holding a week of events at the Guildhall and in CrownGate shopping centre to give out advice and practical tips on recycling, managing food waste, making businesses sustainable and other topics.
Go Green Week, which won in the awards" Education and Skills category, was supported by a range of local partners, including Worcestershire County Council and Heart of Worcestershire (HOW) College.
Councillor Adrian Gregson, Leader of Worcester City Council, said: "It is great to win recognition for the imaginative ideas that went into both of these schemes. Boosting sustainability and recycling in Worcester can only be done if organisations like ours work together, so it's good to see this partnership becoming such a success."
Katy Boom, University of Worcester Director of Sustainability, said: "We are extremely proud of these two student-led initiatives, which have not only helped make Worcester a more sustainable city but have also given students new skills and experience in how to undertake collaborative behaviour change projects.""
The Green Apple Environment Awards are international prizes awarded annually to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.