A DEDICATED recycling team that covers West Devon is celebrating its achievement at this year’s ‘thank you’ awards.

West Devon Borough Council’s Recycling Round 5 scooped the ‘people’s choice’ award at Recycle Devon’s annual awards ceremony, held in Exeter on Friday, March 16. The ceremony recognises those who go the extra mile to make sure Devon remains one of the top recyclers in the UK.

The crew, made up of driver Phil Wright, with Andrew Lumley and Toby Brightmoor, work the largest recycling round in the North side of West Devon. They collect the bulk of recycling in the main areas of Chagford, South Zeal and Sticklepath, Okehampton, North Tawton and Hatherleigh.

The crew’s employer, FCC Environment, nominated them by as they have received many compliments from residents remarking on their courtesy and politeness. The crew recently saved the day when a refuse vehicle got stuck in queuing traffic on the A30 following an accident, by collecting a second vehicle to go out and complete the round.

The West Devon crew were nominated in two categories, achieving runner-up in the ‘collection crew’ category. The ‘people’s choice’ award, however, was voted for directly by members of the public, and the winners were clear; of 1,200 votes cast, more than a quarter were for the Round 5 crew. For this they received a special trophy made from recycled aluminium cans.