Wolverhampton waste collection crew nominated as best in the UK
Released: 8 October 2007
A waste collection crew from Wolverhampton has been nominated as the best in the country for their commitment to providing an excellent service.
The team, led by Roger Collins and Les Dewsbury, is a finalist in the Collection Crew of the Year category of the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management.
Roger and Les’ crew is one of four which provides a trade waste collection service in and around Wolverhampton. Trade waste collection is part of services provided by the city council and Enterprise Plc which work together as the Wolverhampton Waste Management Partnership.
The crew was chosen from hundreds of entries for the shortlist of three in the national awards run by letsrecycle.com.
Councillor Pat Byrne, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “While all our waste collection crews are dedicated to providing a high quality collection scheme, the service delivered by Roger and Les’ team stands out as very deserving of such recognition.
“The waste partnership’s work in promoting the trade waste service is significantly helped by the work of Roger, Les and the team.
“Not only do they provide an excellent service; they are constantly thinking of new ways to improve on what they can provide to customers. For example, if there is a continuous problem with access or excess waste the crew will visit the customer personally and suggest a solution.
“Customers are genuinely impressed with the dedication shown by the crew and the service they provide.”
Councillor Byrne added that the nomination of the crew for this award followed closely on from the partnership being awarded the Charter Mark for excellence in customer service, continuous improvement and innovation.
“It provides yet another example of the commitment and professionalism of everyone at the partnership in delivering services of the highest quality,” she said.
More than 200 entries were received in nine Awards for Excellence categories this year, celebrating special efforts and innovation across the local authority, retail and business sectors.
Roger Collins, team leader on the Wolverhampton round said: “I am completely stunned and delighted to have been nominated for this award. It just shows that the hard work I and Les put in on a daily basis is appreciated not only by our customers but also by the waste partnership’s management.
“We as a crew always try to take an interest in our customers; if they have a problem we try to resolve it for them on the ground and this just shows that they appreciate our efforts.
“Les and I are both really proud and feel it is a fantastic achievement to make the final three out of the hundreds of nominations that were put forward.”
The winners will be announced on Wednesday October 17 at London’s Savoy Hotel.
Steve Eminton, editor of letsrecycle.com, said: "We've seen a phenomenal number of entries to the Awards for Excellence this year, which really shows how many examples of good work are going on all around us within local authorities, waste management companies and community groups.”
The awards are supported by the likes of Defra, the Environment Agency, the Environmental Services Association and the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers.
Issued by the press office.