Waste King has been named on the shortlist for this year’s Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Awards for Environmental Excellence. Waste King’s nomination is in the ‘SME Recycling Performance of the Year’ category. The awards ceremony, which will be hosted by writer and TV presenter Kate Humble, is being held at the Marriott, in Grosvenor Square, London, on Thursday 8th November.

 

Formed in 2007 by Andy Cattigan and Glenn Currie, Waste King focuses not only on providing a friendly, efficient, cost-effective service but also one which is environmentally friendly. In particular, Waste King’s Environment Agency-licensed staff ensure that the maximum amount of waste can be recycled and that all the waste collected is disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

 

Over the past year, Glenn and Andy have been using their industry knowledge and expertise to: provide a lead to – and means for – their local community to promote the environmentally friendly disposal of waste and increase the amount of recycling. They have also instituted innovative approaches to recycling which also help the local community via charitable giving.

 

Waste King’s recent notable corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts include:

  • Rescuing `Colin’, a Giant African Land Snail (the snail was being thrown away – in a green `wheelie bin’ – by one of Waste King’s customers). It’s now loaned the snail to a local junior school so that the pupils can look after and study `him’, as well as learn more, via Colin, about looking after the environment.
  • Donating several tonnes of recycled books, DVDs and music CDs to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) as well as tonnes of old clothes to the Salvation Army.
  • Giving a number of old computers – discarded by its customers – to Matthew, a young man who has severe autism and a fascination with computers. Matthew takes these computers apart and re-builds them – purely for therapeutic purposes – because doing this helps him to cope with his condition.
  • Building a special `waste cage’ for a customer whose staff put any waste products – from plasterboard and electrical goods to `mixed waste’ – into the cage. In the cage, these waste products are segregated so that they can be more easily recycled – leaving only a small percentage of the waste to go to landfill, thus preventing unnecessary damage to the environment.

 

Waste King’s managing director, Glenn Currie, said: “We’re delighted to have been nominated for these Awards – and to have been named as one of this year’s finalists is an extra bonus. Naturally, we’re looking forward to the ceremony – and to meeting Kate Humble – but the real winner from all those shortlisted for one of these awards has got to be our environment. That way, we all benefit – and everyone’s a winner!”

 

Comment: Aside from any thoughts about Kate Humble, these awards provide an excellent opportunity to recognise the environmentally friendly efforts of organisations including Waste King. Hopefully, in addition to rewarding those pursuing environmentally friendly strategies, the Awards will encourage others to adopt similar policies.