Recycling Team Wins International Award
A top international award has been presented to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in recognition of its pioneering recycling website.
Officers from the Council’s Streetcare Team travelled to the Tower of London to receive the International Green Heroes 2008 Award from world-famous botanist David Bellamy OBE. It comes only a few months since Mr Bellamy also presented them with a Green Apple Award for the same website.
Rhondda Cynon Taf was the only Welsh business, local authority or organisation to attend the prestigious awards at the New Armouries in the historic landmark building. Alongside innovative schemes from as far afield as Portugal, Bulgaria and Australia the Council’s website, The World of Rhys Cycle received a Green Heroes plaque.
TOP AWARD: Botanist David Bellamy OBE presenting the Green Apple Award to the Council’s Service Director of Streetcare, Nigel Wheeler and Service Director for Environmental Services George Jones at the Tower of London.
The website was launched last year and is the first local government website in Wales aimed at educating primary school children about the importance of recycling.
Following the ongoing success of the character Rhys Cycle whose widespread popularity amongst primary and junior schools in the county borough continues to increase, it was decided to give him a special website of his own which can be found on www.rhyscycle.co.uk .
Organisers of the award ceremony were The Green Organisation, an independent environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.
The judges commented: “Rhys Cycle is the champion and main character for the recycling web site developed by the Council to target the children of the area.
“With free membership and an open two-way idea sharing system between children and the council this site is proving fun, educational and popular with over 100 members already. It is regarded as a model of best practice for development across the country.”
The award-winning project will be featured in the next Green Book, the worlds’ only work of reference on environmental best practice.
The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Frontline Services Cllr Anthony Christopher said: “The success of our champion recycling mascot Rhys Cycle is obvious given the huge amount of members currently accessing his website throughout the world and also the following he has locally in our primary and infants schools.
“It I very rewarding that the efforts of our Streetcare Team have been recognised nationally with the presentation of the International Green Heroes Award and am sure that their tireless efforts to promote recycling, sustainability and the improvement of the environment will continue this ongoing success story.”
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Last revised on: 6/6/2008