20th July 2007
CELEBRATING PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE IN THE WASTE INDUSTRY
The inaugural CIWM Professional Awards, held at JCB’s World Headquarters near Uttoxeter last week, proved a fitting way to recognize the achievements of a host of waste industry professionals.
As well as a factory tour, JCB provided its state of the art auditorium for the awards, which have been relocated from the CIWM’s annual conference in Torbay to provide the scope to expand the awards and allow time for presentations from some of the finalists and winners.
Jonathan Garnham, JCB’s General Manager for Waste, Recycling and Demolition, said: “The CIWM Annual Awards Scheme rewards organisations that have developed new initiatives to promote innovation in this important and fast-moving industry.”
“That mirrors JCB’s own determination and commitment to providing industry solutions that will enable these organisations to continue to develop and achieve. That is why we are delighted to host this year’s Awards ceremony at JCB’s World Headquarters.”
Presenting the awards was Kay Twitchen OBE, Chair of Essex County Council’s Planning and Environmental Policy Group, as well as a Board Member of the Environment Agency and former Chair of the Local Government Association’s Waste & Environmental Management Executive. Kay used her opening address to remind those present of the multitude of challenges that the industry has and is facing, and the important role that the CIWM plays in providing education, training and standards.
“The work of the CIWM means that those studying or working in waste management at all levels are better educated, better informed, and have a better understanding of the complex issues that face the industry today,” Kay said. “This is essential if we are to have a progressive industry with the vision to meet future challenges, not least the important part that sustainable wastes and resources management will play in tackling climate change.”
The event kicked off with two new awards. The Ben Heath Award is for the best presentation made to a CIWM meeting during the previous year and it introduced an element of competition into the proceedings by being judged on the day.
The two finalists gave shortened versions of their presentations, and it was Shanks’ Geoff Smallwood who most impressed the judges with a hard hitting presentation about health and safety in the waste management and recycling industry. He narrowly edged out Martin Bjerregaard of Golder Associates, who gave a very interesting paper on waste management in disaster zones.
The second new award was The Roger Perry Award, which recognizes research being carried out by CIWM members at Masters and Doctoral level. Rather fittingly since Roger Perry was Professor of Environmental and Waste Management at Imperial College London, the first winners of the award were Jilang Pan and Nick Voulvoulis from Imperial College for a paper ‘The role of MBT in reducing methane emissions from landfill disposal of MSW in the UK’.
Other winners on the day were:
Student Awards: Andrew Leech for being the best student on the Masters Degree course in Integrated Waste & Resources Management at Cranfield University.
James Sumner Award 2007 to enable a young CIWM member to attend an international conference – Victoria Bond of Hyder Consulting (UK).
Waste Regulation Award 2006 for the best paper presented to a CIWM meeting or published in the CIWM journal during the previous year: Andrew Witty. Principal Policy Officer for SEPA for his paper ‘The interaction of waste policy, renewable energy policy and planning policy in Scotland - delivering integrated solutions.’
JC Dawes Bursary 2007, established in memory of one of the founding fathers of the CIWM to provide a bursary of £2000 to allow a member to carry out research in a country other than the one in which they live: Dr Toni Gladding of the Open University, who will carry out research into the health effects of AWCs, particularly on waste collection operatives.
James Jackson Medal for 2006, awarded for the best formal written paper presented at a CIWM meeting or published during the previous year: Ian Williams, Sonya Heaven and Anthony Curran of the University of Southampton for their paper ‘An evaluation of council bulky waste collection services in England’ published in Resources, Conservation & Recycling.
PEEL People’s Cup 2007, which recognizes excellence in operational teamwork on site.
• Winner: Hitech Equipment, a hazardous waste treatment and recycling plant in Paisley Scotland that has diverted around 10,000 tonnes of hazardous material from landfill during the last year.
• Highly commended: Sheffield Energy Recovery Facility, operated by Veolia Environmental Services, which generates almost 100,000 mega-watt hours of electricity a year with a district heating system that serves nearly 140 buildings in central Sheffield.
• Commended: Gremista Waste Management Facility and Energy Recovery Plant in Lerwick, Shetland – a 24/7 integrated facility encompassing landfill, CA site, recycling centre, waste sorting and treatment, leachate treatment, and energy recovery with district heating.
“This has been a fantastic event where members of the Institution and representatives from industry have been able to see something of the uses to which previous award winners have put their bursaries and we have heard something of the aspirations of this year’s winners. The high quality of the day has been significantly enhanced by the help and support of JCB and we are very grateful to them,” says Mark Gibson, Professional Services Manager.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is the leading professional body for the waste management sector representing over 7000 individuals in the UK and overseas. Established in 1898, CIWM is a non profit-making organisation, dedicated to the promotion of professional competence amongst waste managers. CIWM seeks to raise standards for those working in and with the sector by producing best practice guidance, developing educational and training initiatives, and providing information on key waste-related issues. Comprehensive information about CIWM can be found at www.ciwm.co.uk
Contacts:
Pat Jennings, Communications Office
Tel: 01604 620426
E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk
Mark Gibson, Professional Services Manager
Tel: 01604 620426
E-mail: mark.gibson@ciwm.co.uk
