The Western Civic Amenity Site won the award for Protecting our Environment at last year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

The facility has been running an education programme for 10 years which has seen recycling and reuse increase to an average of 70% in the four years up to 2020.

They embarked on a green energy initiative in 2017 and use electric vehicles to collect items for recycling from local schools.

Before Covid-19 stopped everything in its tracks earlier this year they had also developed an education trailer which they take to local schools and events, to talk about subjects including UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man; how and what to recycle; energy; home composting, and protecting bees.

Manager Mike Rose, said: ’The site was able to stay open because we were classed as an essential service: Covid did mess up our education programme but we’re back on track now with school visits.

’We were at Rushen Primary recently and we also took the trailer to the Food and Drink Festival for the two days.’

Looking back on the benefits of entering the Awards for Excellence, Mike added that it gave the site a chance to showcase the extent of its work: ’Although everybody knows we’re here they don’t always know what we do so it increased public perception.

’And it was wonderful for all the people who work here on the site to recognise their hard work.’

l Do you have a business or project which helps to protect our environment: why not enter this year’s Awards for Excellence and tell everyone about it?

As well as the Awards for Protecting our Environment, the Awards for Excellence offers a wide range of awards with the emphasis on community involvement in this extraordinary year.

Categories include Doing the Impossible During the Pandemic, Our Local Heroes and Business Supporting Our Community.

The awards are open to businesses of all sizes, individuals, charitable and cultural organisations and public sector teams and you can enter more than one category. If you need advice about which category to enter and what makes a good entry you can call Trudi Williamson on 695694.

You will find full information and download entry forms at www.excellence-awards.com - entries close on Friday, January 15.