Norfolk's recycling heroes were recognised this week at the annual Norfolk Waste Partnership Awards in Norwich. Now in its seventh year, the awards event celebrates the individuals, communities and businesses that aim to improve the environment by reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

Norfolk's recycling heroes were recognised this week at the annual Norfolk Waste Partnership Awards in Norwich. Now in its seventh year, the awards event celebrates the individuals, communities and businesses that aim to improve the environment by reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

The 30 entries were considered by a panel of 10 judges, made up of officers and members of the Norfolk Waste Partnership, and award sponsors May Gurney and Norse.

'The thing that really came through was the amount of projects that involve communities,' said judge Andrew Slater, director of marketing and communications at May Gurney. 'A lot of the ideas were also very simple and would be easy to pick-up and use elsewhere, which is great.'

The winners were:

Community Action

Winner: Norfolk Federation of Women's Institutes

Highly commended: Trunch Community Comptosting Scheme

Commended: Not More Bloomin' Elves, Norwich

Business Waste Most Innovative

Winner: Third Hand, Gt Plumstead

Highly Commended: Unwind, Trowse

Commended: Enviropod, Thetford

Business Waste Best Practice

Winner: Strattons Hotel, Swaffham

Highly Commended: RAF Marham

Commended: The Sandringham Estate

Waste Hero

Winner: Rachel Venables from Not More Bloomin' Elves

Highly commended: Michael Jeal from First Move Furnishaid, Great Yarmouth

Commended: John Ridler, master composter, Gt Ormesby

Safe Hands

Winner: Wayland High School's Ecobugs, Watton

Highly commended: Buxton Lamas Sea Scouts

Commended: Belton Scout Group

Social Enterprise

Winner: First Move Furnishaid

Highly commended: Village Environment Recycling Group (VERG), Old Buckenham

Commended: Trunch Community Composting Scheme

Chairman's Award

Winner: RAF Marham