ODS scoops Zero Waste Award

The latest recipients of the Zero Waste Awards have been announced and ODS, Oxford City Council’s wholly owned company, has scooped a four-star award.

Set up in 2010 by letsrecycle.com, the scheme has more than 500 members and recognises businesses and organisations committed to increasing the amount of waste they reduce, reuse and recycle.

The Zero Waste Awards’ organisers said: “The overall objective of the scheme is to build a community of sustainable businesses, providing a platform for recipients to collaborate and work together to reduce their environmental impact.”

Entries are broken up into 10 categories, enabling organisations to benchmark against those in the same sector. The categories are sponsored by expert partners who provide free advice and guidance to any business looking to improve their environmental credentials.

Entrants are assigned a ranking by industry experts under a star system. Five stars means an organisation has invested in the principle of continuous improvement and actively demonstrates Zero Waste achievements. Two stars signifies that an organisation has started on the journey and is gathering relevant data.

Cllr Mike Rowley, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services said: “I want to congratulate ODS on successfully receiving this award. These four stars are a recognition for the staff and their efforts to keep Oxford at the forefront when it comes to reducing, reusing and recycling.”  

Maria Warner, Waste and Recycling Services Manager added: “We were so pleased to hear that we received a four star rating from the Zero Waste Awards. It showcases the hard work and dedication of each and every team member in reducing waste, helping us to become a more sustainable business.”

The recipients of 2021 Zero Waste Awards will be recognised and given a chance to network with their industry peers at a lunch to be held in November.