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Bolton Retains Title To Scoop Major Cash Prize In Recycling Race
Last updated: 29th June 2006
Bolton residents have scooped a £24,250 cash prize after storming to victory once again in the UPM Shotton Race to Recycle Awards 2006. The win accounts for half of the total £48,500 prize fund available and it's the second year running that Bolton have topped the charts.
Bolton Council managed to increase its potential paper recycling rate by an astounding 13 percent over the last twelve months, climbing to number one in the Race to Recycle chart this year.
Delighted council chiefs were presented with a cheque by Tony Robinson, star of Time Team and Blackadder, in a lavish ceremony held at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. The event was held this week in the city and was organised by UPM Shotton, the UK's largest paper recycler.
Councillor Elaine Sherrington, Executive Member of Recycling and Waste Management, Bolton Council said: "This is a tremendous achievement and it is all down to the efforts of the people of Bolton. I want to see this town build on its achievements and not just be the best at recycling in Greater Manchester but be the best in the Country. Recycling saves both money and the environment and with the extra resources we have from winning this prestigious prize we shall make further investments in the community".
This is the fifth Race to Recycle Awards ceremony since the initiative was launched in 2002. UPM Shotton puts £1 into a prize fund for every tonne of paper collected in Greater Manchester; this is then divided between the three most improved local authorities to be invested in a project to benefit the community or the environment.
"Race to Recycle is our flagship initiative in Greater Manchester, since the event was launched in 2002, we have seen an amazing 61 percent increase in paper recycling," says Martin Green, from UPM Shotton. "We are working with local authorities to create a much needed 'recycling culture' across the area, encouraging residents to get involved in paper collection schemes by providing a cash incentive."
"Recent figures suggest that the North West produces more waste per person a year than any other region and this unique competition was designed to provide a significant incentive to help correct this shocking statistic. Bolton's well deserved prize acts as a thank you to residents of the town and we hope this encourages them to keep up the good work and continue to recycle"
The three most improved councils were Bolton in first place, followed by Trafford and Rochdale who drew for second place. Each of the Councils will be investing their hard earned cash in social or environmental projects that will benefit the local community.
Bolton's award was received by Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Walter Hall, he said: "I'm delighted to accept this award on behalf of all the residents who have done a brilliant job in recycling their paper over the past year.
"Last year our first place prize money of £22,873 part funded a superb new children's play area on Luton Street, Bolton. We have lots of ideas on how to spend the prize money this year, and we'll be consulting with local people to find a scheme of social and environmental benefit to the community, something which provides a lasting tribute to the recycling efforts of everyone in Bolton".
Race to Recycle's key purpose is to help reduce the 1.4 million tonnes of rubbish that Greater Manchester produces each year, over a tonne per household.
Currently Greater Manchester achieves an overall recycling rate of 16.5% which is just 1% less than the national UK average of 17.8%. UPM Shotton will continue to work closely with local authorities in order to achieve the objective of tripling the amount of recovered paper recycled by the public by 2010.