A SCHEME to encourage students at the University of Worcester to recycle their waste has won a gold award at this year’s Green Apple Awards for environmental best practice.

Representatives from both Worcester City Council and the university attended the awards ceremony at the House of Commons in November to find out that they had scooped the top award.

Katy Boom, head of sustainability and development at the university, said: “This award is recognition of all the hard work undertaken by both the university and Worcester City Council to improve recycling rates and engage with students.

“We were absolutely thrilled to win gold.”

The university and city council have now been invited to join the National Green Heroes, an elite group of environmental achievers who use their experience to help thousands of others – and the environment – around the world.

The joint initiative between the university and Worcester City Council was launched last year and saw a number of large green and black bins placed around campus, which are emptied by the city council as part of its recycling scheme.

The city council and the university worked closely together in designing awareness-raising stickers and organised joint visits to all student flats to explain exactly what and how to recycle.

Councillor Roger Knight, deputy leader and portfolio holder for cleaner and greener city, said: “It’s a great pleasure to work in partnership with such an influential body as the university to manage issues regarding waste in our city.”

When the scheme was first introduced the university’s recycling rate rose by more than 120 per cent in the students’ halls.

Similar visits and information is planned for this year’s students.

in your Worcester News PICTURE CAPTION: WASTE NOT: Sian Stokes from Worcester City Council, left, Coun Roger Knight, and Katy Boom from the university with the Green Apple award