Recycling officer is apple of council's eye
TORBAY's recycling officer Carol Arthur has won two more accolades for her work boosting recycling across the Bay.
Carol, who works for Torbay Council, has been named Recycling Officer of the Year by the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee.
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TASTE OF SUCESS: Torbay Council's recycling officer Carol Arthur, who has won a national award and her eighth Green Apple
She has also picked up her eighth successive Green Apple environmental award, this time for co-ordinating a successful Go Green on the Green family fun day in Paignton.
When Carol took up her post in Torbay in 1998, the Bay's recycling rate stood at just six per cent. It now stands at 45 per cent, thanks largely to the introduction of an improved waste and recycling collection service by Torbay Council and TOR2.
Steve Bryant, TOR2's refuse and recycling manager, nominated Carol for the LARAC award. Praising her relentless commitment, enthusiasm and dedication, he said: "She has played a key role in helping TOR2 roll out the improved collection system which, in turn, has had such a positive impact on the Bay's recycling rate."
Carol said: "While I am, of course, delighted personally at picking up these awards, the success of the work I do with the support of my colleagues is down to the residents of Torbay.
"In recent years our residents have increasingly realised the environmental and financial importance of recycling. It is thanks to them that we continue to improve our recycling rate, with the aim, hopefully, of reaching the Government's 50 per cent target within the next year or so."
The annual Green Apple awards are promoted by The Green Organisation, an independent environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.
3 Comments
by Karen362
Thursday, December 29 2011, 8:23PM
“I hadn't got past the cheesy, grammar school head girl grin meself. I think as the new year progresses, we will begin to question the fiscal viability of many of these traditional, token female roles. It used to be the same in The City with some influential client's wife being given a token role in corporate hospitality or pr. This kind of thing has served the purposes of the local hegemony in the past, but is no longer sustainable now. Perhaps this is just a sweetner before she gets her golden handshake next year?”
by Isolde
Thursday, December 29 2011, 4:39PM
“She looks great with that old coat hanger around her neck, good on Carol for using recycling for her jewellery.”
by Karen362
Thursday, December 29 2011, 1:43PM
“I'd be interested to know what Carol is paid for promoting recycling in The Bay? Bearing in mind that the Council now operates a mandatory collection scheme, I wonder if this kind of token PR woman is merely a superfluous embellishment these days.
Frankly, we should be thanking the men and women who have the unenviable job of collecting and recycling our refuge for a meagre or casual wage. We're all recycling our waste now - so why does Carol merit an award? They should give her a pair of gloves and overalls and get her to earn her money down at the depot like everyone else!”