PRESS RELEASE

20^th October 2008

TEG reaches finals of Excellence Awards

In-vessel composting specialist TEG Environmental reached the finals in the 'Innovation in design of a waste management facility' category in the annual Awards for Excellence in recycling and waste management organised by letsrecycle.com.

The TEG entry was for its site at Todmorden, West Yorkshire, which has been converted from a former maggot farm.  The project involved the demolition and complete redevelopment of the 6.5 acre site.  TEG set out to prove to the community that its award winning systems and its operational integrity would make it a responsible commercial neighbour.  The company has invested £7 million in a regeneration scheme that has created a 21^st century organic composting facility licensed to handle up to 50,000 tonnes of waste each year.  The plant became operational in April 2007.

"We are delighted to have reached the finals for this prestigious award," said Commercial Director Jayne Pierre.  "As with all our sites, we have worked hard to develop a close relationship with the local community and the Environment Agency to minimise the environmental impact of our operation."

TEG's Technical Director, Fiona Maudsley Drain and Engineering Director, Ron McIlwraith, attended a showcase luncheon at the Millennium Mayfair Hotel, London, where they received a framed certificate from ITV Economics Editor, Daisy McAndrew and Steve Eminton, Editor of letsrecycle.com. 

The event was attended by more than 300 senior industry representatives, who heard shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth pay tribute to the recycling and waste management sector: "Too often we've thought of waste as rubbish.  We need to change the way we think about waste, which means scrutinising every aspect of the supply chain.  Too much of what we call waste isn't waste at all and in these economically hard times, we can no longer afford to be profligate.  It is government's job to steer a course to a zero waste economy," he added.

Praising those who were short-listed for an award he went on to say:  "If we get it right, the rewards include a cleaner, greener environment, lower carbon emissions, lower costs to business, lower costs to local authorities and major business opportunities."

More than 170 entries were received for the Awards, now in their fifth year, which showcase innovation, dedication and success in recycling and waste management. The 'Innovation in design of a waste management facility' category was won by North Down Recycling & Environmental Information Centre, Bangor.

The Todmorden site is one of three owned and managed by TEG, with others in Preston, Lancashire and Perth, Scotland.  Other composting plants using TEG technology are operational in Gwynedd, Swansea, Norfolk and Exeter.

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