Newport-based waste management company GD Environmental has been named Wales’ Green Champion at this year’s Green Apple Environment Awards.

At a prestigious awards ceremony, held at the Houses of Parliament, GD Environmental picked up top prize ‘Green Champion’ in the Wales’ Environmental Best Practice awards category, while The National Trust received a gold accolade, Ystrad Mynach-based Amber Services collected a silver award and Amgen Cymru, of Aberdare, took bronze.

The award recognises GD Environmental’s pledge to value waste as a resource, a vision integral to GD’s business priorities of reducing waste and minimising impact.

The implementation of GD’s waste reduction and recycling strategy has led to the company achieving a 96 per cent recycling rate, with 100 per cent of waste diverted from landfill to either recycling or energy recovery.

The company has also made significant investments in a range of areas, including the company’s fleet of vehicles, a closed loop plastic recycling plant and specialist water treatment facilities; all of which positively influence the company’s environmental impact.

Since 1994, The Green Apple Awards endeavour to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice among companies, councils and communities from around the world, with this year’s competition attracting more than 500 applications.

Mathew Roderick, managing director of GD Environmental Services,said: “Being awarded with this significant accolade has added an extra string to our already powerful bow. We’re delighted that our efforts have been recognised on a national scale, reinforcing our reputation as one of the most environmentally considerate waste management companies operating in Wales today.”

The Green Apple Awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environmental group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.