Green council's 'apple' reward

TORBAY Council has received a fifth Green Apple environmental award for its efforts in tackling the problem of plastic bags.

The council's recycling officer Carol Arthur said: "Working with Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and the Transition Town community group, we ran a competition asking primary schools to come up with an eye-catching and thought-provoking design for a re-usable bag.

"Fifty thousand organic natural unbleached cotton bags were produced with the winning design on them. More than 50 local retailers, both large and small, have supported the initiative by publicising the re-usable bags in their stores.

"The project has increased the local awareness of the problems caused by plastic bags. In a coastal area like Torbay, plastic waste in the sea and on our beaches is a major problem in terms of litter in general and the hazard to marine life."

This is the fifth Green Apple award the council have won in four years.

Cabinet member Cllr Chris Lewis said: " It is recognition for the work we as a council are doing to promote recycling, and equally importantly for the tremendous enthusiasm shown by people in the local community who are keen to help us make our initiatives such a success. "

The Green Apple awards are now in their 15th year and attracted more than 500 nominations this year.

The awards are organised by the Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non activist, non-profit environmental group. The organisation are dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.