~Recycle Devon Awards

Devon’s recycling heroes were recently celebrated at the Recycle Devon Thank You awards, which were created to recognise the unsung recycling heroes across the county. Cllr Mel Lucas said, “We wanted to say a special thank you for everything that they do to ensure that Devon does not go to waste. We have been truly amazed at the enthusiasm and unselfish efforts, that all our winners go to reduce, reuse and recycle. On behalf of the Recycling Committee and personally, I would like to say thank you to you all. You are all winners!’ 
This was the second year of the Recycle Devon Thank You awards, which marked the 11th anniversary of the Don’t Let Devon go to waste campaign. Devon enjoys a recycling rate of 55% (2012/13) making it one of the highest recycling counties in the country.
Recycling Hero for Devon  Winner: Dean Mallon from Otter Rotters Composting
Dean has had a troubled background.  This year he started volunteering with Otter Rotters on the garden waste collections in East Devon.  Dean is so committed that he purchased his own safety work wear and paid for physiotherapy so he can be more productive whilst doing this physical job.  The improvement in Dean’s well-being is visible and so is his pride at serving the community.  His aim is to get paid employment and earn a reputation for being hard working and dependable.  Dean’s interaction and team work with his learning disabled co-workers also made him worthy of recognition.
School Recycling Hero (Child) Runner up:  Graham Spry, Broadclyst Graham takes an active role in School recycling ensuring all recyclables are in the right place ready for collection.  He also does the recycling at the Caddihoe Scout Campsite as an assistant warden, where since the age of 5 he has helped to minimise landfill waste and ensure recycling is sorted and put out each week for collection.
Category Winner:  Daniel Salter, Forches Cross Primary School Barnstaple  Daniel asks the school eco co-ordinator every day if there are any jobs that need doing.   He takes responsibility for the eco-notice board to show how well the school is doing with its Green Flag work and has enrolled younger children to help him.  Daniel often has new ideas to make the School even more eco-friendly and he keeps everyone on their toes.
School Recycling Hero (Adult) Runner up - Nigel Rowtcliffe, Great Torrington School Nigel tirelessly organises the recycling of cardboard, plastic, paper, tins and glass at school.  He is always passing on his recycling advice.  Because of this the School only produces three small wheelie bins of non-recyclable waste per week. 
Runner up - Emma Goodwin, Okehampton Primary School Emma organises litter picking events at School and in the community with parents and children, she recycles most of the collected litter. Emma has also involved children in a plastic bag campaign, posters were designed and put up in school and the local Waitrose.
Category Winner:  George Tribe, Bratton Fleming Community Primary School George has worked as a caretaker at the School for the last 21 years. He has lived in the village all his life and he cares very passionately about it.  At 85 years old, he still comes into school every morning. He opens up the school and then spends an hour or so sorting out the school recycling and food bins
ensuring everything is put into its correct place.  George’s dedication sends out a fantastic message to the children about how vitally important it is to recycle!
Collection Crew/Operative (Recycling, Garden, Food or Refuse Collector(s)) Runner up: Andy Clements, SITA Woodbury Salterton Andy is a hard working Recycling Collector for SITA in East Devon.  He has taught his youngest child Korey what  to recycle and which bin it should go into as well. 
Runner up: The Recycling Collection Team, Mid Devon District Council In Mid Devon, recycling boxes are hand sorted at the kerbside.  This is hard physical work that most people do not appreciate.  In the winter hands are usually freezing cold and wet. In summer, heat, wasps, smelly tins, and other hazards are routine. Despite this the Recycling Teams are dedicated to what they do, always happy and do a fantastic job. 
Category Winner:  Dean Mallon, Otter Rotters Street Cleansers Category
Winner:  Mike Hollyer, Cleansing Operative, Exeter City Council Mike was the first operative to pilot the Exeter Looking Good regime in Heavitree, Exeter. He takes pride in his work and is building a really good rapport with  the community.