SEVERAL local people featured in this year’s Recycle Devon "Thank You" awards, the sixth annual awards, at County Hall, Exeter last month.

As in previous years, residents nominated their "recycling super hero" in categories that included community groups, businesses and individual heroes. Recycle Devon then shortlisted the nominations, picking category runners-up and winners.

The public was also asked to directly vote for their recycling hero, they could choose any of the nominees, regardless of whether they won a category or not.

Nearly 900 votes were cast. West Devon Borough Council’s Round Four collection crew took nearly a third of the votes to become "People’s Choice Hero".

Devon County Council’s Principal Waste Manager Annette Dentith congratulated the West Devon crew, the winners and all the runners-up.

She also thanked Alupro, Heart, Made with Love by Mazz, RH Advertising, URM and everyone who was nominated and shortlisted.

"You are all inspirational," she said, adding that it was thanks to them that 54 per cent of Devon’s household rubbish was recycled, making Devon one of the top recycling counties.

MATT HULLAND

Matt Hulland, representing Exeter and area, was winner of the Your Recycling Hero (Friend, Family Member, Neighbour or Local Recycling Champion), Matt was also a runner-up in the Community Group Recycling Hero category.

Matt is manager for Exeter City Council, running the MRF facility which sorts Exeter’s recycling. He is also a co-founder of Ocean Recovery Project which is a partnership of Exeter City Council and Keep Britain Tidy.

Matt has lived in Crediton for 14 years and his two sons go to the Hayward’s School. Full details of his award are on his “Facebook” page.

Winning the "Your recycling hero - Devon" award was for Matt’s efforts in maximising Exeter’s recycling value and quality and working with other local authorities and organisations to find solutions for their materials and marine plastics.

He was runner-up in "Community hero" for recycling materials for charity that cannot be main stream recycled (Ellie’s Fund - A BTRS Charity) for which he is the South West co-ordinator.

Matt has four recycling points in Crediton, one in Cheriton Fitzpaine, Copplestone, Tiverton and The Blue Cross. He also has points further afield now in Exeter and Exmouth. You can see this on Recycling for Ellie’s fund page on FB or Matt’s page.

Matt helps Sustainable Crediton with events and litter picks around Crediton. He was involved in a clean up with The Turning Tides Project at Wellparks and the Sustainabiltiy workshop at Hayward’s. 

Amanda Salter of North Tawton was a runner-up in the Your Recycling Hero (Friend, Family Member or Local Recycling Champion) category.

Sarah Gillbard of the London Inn, Morchard Bishop was a Small Business champion runner-up.

In the Recycling Centre Operative Staff Nathan Tanton of the Punchbowl Recycling Centre was winner.

The ceremony was hosted by Matt and Victoria from Heart Radio’s breakfast show. All winners and runners-up received special hand-decorated Recycle Devon awards, upcycled from glass carafes and jars supplied by Devon company, Made with Love by Mazz in Exeter. 

All awards were sponsored by glass recycling company URM.  The People’s Choice Champions received an aluminium dish sponsored by Alupro.

They also enjoyed a cream tea sponsored by RH Advertising.