Recycling scheme nominated for national award
A pioneering partnership scheme involving prisoners and Warwickshire County Council getting recycled household electrical equipment to those in need has been nominated for a national award.
The ‘Goods Again’ project has been shortlisted as a finalist for the National Recycling Awards 2006, and is one of just five nominees with the chance of winning the Best Partnership Project for Recycling award.
‘Goods Again’ is a partnership between the county council, Her Majesty’s Prison Onley, Warwickshire Environmental Trust and Coventry City Mission.
The scheme sees unwanted household electrical appliances collected by Warwickshire County Council, often through the recycling shops in Leamington and Stratford, and then prisoners working in a purpose built workshop at Onley Prison are trained to refurbish them. Once refurbished the goods are offered to those in need at a low cost.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “This scheme not only provides employment focussed training, but also helps to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill locally.
“We are delighted to have been shortlisted as a finalist for the awards, and to have our work recognised on a national scale is a real boost.”
The Big Lottery’s Community Recycling and Economic Development Programme, Biffaward and Her Majesty’s Prison Service fund the project.
The National Recycling Awards, now in their eighth year, are recognised as a stamp of excellence in the recycling industry and represent success and innovation.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony being held at the Bournemouth International Centre on Wednesday, November 15.