Crest Cooperative in Llandudno Junction receives two top awards

Nov 4 2010 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

AN INNOVATIVE recycling partnership has scooped two prestigious awards for excellence.

Social enterprise Crest Cooperative, based in Llandudno Junction, housing association Cartrefi Conwy and construction company G. Purchase, have saved nearly 4,000 kitchens and bathrooms from landfill since the project started 18 months ago.

The scheme has been hailed as the first recycling partnership of its kind in the UK, with more than 90% of material salvaged now being recycled.

Over the weekend the partners celebrated a double victory. They were presented with the Cylch Wales Recycling Innovation Award in Cardiff, and soon after honoured with the Waste Initiative Award at the UK Sustainable Housing ceremony in London.

Sharon Jones, director of Crest Cooperative, said: “To win the Innovative award at the annual Cylch conference in Cardiff was absolutely fantastic and a really proud moment for me as director of Crest.

“However, to win a second award at the Sustainable Housing Awards in London the following day was just unbelievable.

“All the team at Crest have worked so hard to make the Waste Reduction Project that we run with Cartrefi Conwy and G Purchase a success, so it was great that their achievements were recognised by these two very prestigious awards.”

The project has created job opportunities for Conwy’s long-term unemployment. Crest promotes social inclusion and works to provide placement workers with the skills needed to get back into employment.

Crest was established in 1998. Crest also creates work placements for adults with learning disabilities.

For more information visit www.crestcooperative.co.uk