Oxford recycling team brings home award

Recycling work in Oxford city was recently recognised when the city council won an award for Best Team of the Year.

The award was given to Oxford’s recycling team by the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), whose annual awards showcase the achievements and hard work of local authority recycling staff.

In giving the Best Team award to the city council, the LARAC judges said that Oxford had significantly increased the amount of recycled food waste collected, achieved a provision 49.9 per cent recycling rate for 2016/17 - three per cent higher than the previous year - and reduced green bin rubbish by 26.61 kg per household between 2015/16 and 2016/17.

They also noted that Oxford was the best performing council in 2015/16 compared to similar authorities, is in the top 25 per cent of best performing UK councils, offers a comprehensive kerbside service that includes recycling of food, small electrical items and batteries, and makes sure the scheme is easy to understand through effective communications that include visiting residents and putting on roadshows.

John Tanner, board member for a Clean and Green Oxford, said: “This is terrific and well-deserved national recognition for the team. It comes hot on the heels of the award for the Association of Public Service Excellence Best Service Team of the Year to our Streetscene team and is further evidence of the efforts and dedication of city council staff in making Oxford a top class clean and green city.”