Resource Use

Scottish Resources Awards 2018 winners announced

A young anti-waste campaigner focusing on the collection of compostable packaging was among the winners at this year’s Scottish Resources Awards.

The awards brought the curtain down on this year’s Scottish Resources Conference, which ran from Wednesday to Thursday (3-4 October), delivered by Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) and conference partners CIWM and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Five award were up for grabs, recognising excellence and achievement in the Scottish resources and circular economy sectors before a gathering of representatives from businesses and organisations across the country.Scottish Resources Awards winners announced

Kate Chambers won the Young People Award, which was presented in partnership with The Vibes Scottish Environment Business Awards to mark Scotland’s Year of Young People.

Resource Futures consultant Chambers has previously spent two years with Vegware, an Edinburgh-based packaging company that produces compostable food and drink packaging, while also working on Close the Loop, a circular economy initiative that works to guarantee compostable packaging is collected with food waste and processed through industrial composting facilities.

Other winners included a wind turbine refurbishment centre, an algae-based energy production project and a school-based electrical goods recycling project.

The full list of 2018 winners are as follows:

  • Young People Award: Kate Chambers
  • Best Food Waste Initiative: Dundee and Angus College
  • Circular Economy Initiative: Renewable Parts Ltd – Refurbishment Centre
  • Innovation Award: ASLEE – ENBIO
  • Best Partnership Initiative Award: ‘Love Your Gadgets’ – a consortium of Falkirk Council, LAMH Recycle, Re-tek, Valpak and XS Resources
  • Outstanding Contribution Award: Iain Gulland

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of ZWS, picked up the Outstanding Contribution Award for his work furthering the circular economy in Scotland. “I’m thrilled and honoured to be recognised by so many of my peers at such an important industry platform as this,” he commented. “It means a lot to me, but this is an award for more than me as an individual – it’s an award for all my colleagues at Zero Waste Scotland, the many partners we work with and others who support us, notably in Scottish Government, without whom our vision to progress a Circular Economy in Scotland would not be possible.

“It’s great to see young people engaging with the fight against waste and making a real difference. Young people have the biggest stake in tackling climate change and all the young entrants should be lauded for their efforts to make Scotland more sustainable. Kate is a fantastic example of the work that’s being done across this country to find practical solutions to serious problems and to create opportunities in the circular economy. I hope that she – and all those who have picked up awards – will be an inspiration to others to do the same.”

Dr Nicki Souter, chair of the CIWM Scotland Centre, said: "CIWM's mission is to support excellence and professionalism across the resources and waste sector. We are delighted to see that this year's award winners are making a real difference in important areas including food waste, reuse, and other circular economy initiatives and demonstrate a strong commitment to skills, innovation and partnership working."

You can find out more about the Scottish Resources Awards on their dedicated website.

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