A Banbridge waste recycling manager has been dubbed the "best in Ireland" at this year’s Sustainable Ireland Energy, Environmental and Waste Management Awards.

Barry Patience, who has worked as the Waste Management Officer at Banbridge District Council since 2005, was recognised at the ceremony held at Belfast's Ramada Hotel earlier this month.

Sponsored by AMI Limited, the award was for the individual who has successfully implemented an outstanding programme of waste management and recycling within their organisation.

On receiving the award, Mr Patience said: "I feel honoured to receive this award on behalf of the whole team of dedicated individuals that I work with in the council’s Technical Services Department.

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"Achieving a higher recycling rate can be attributed to the joint efforts of my team and the wider community. So this award is testimony to the council’s commitment and the community’s co-operation in working together in partnership to improve the local environment."

Sustainable Ireland General Manager Paul Beattie said: "It was a closely contested category. But the judging panel tell us it was obvious Barry had the edge being totally committed to meeting and surpassing recycling targets, and passionate about the management of the organisation’s waste recycling facility which has recently been completely refurbished and re-designed at a cost of £1.7 million pounds."

A Banbridge council spokesperson said Mr Patience had been instrumental in helping the authority to achieve continued success in the area of recycling and sustainable waste management.

As well as helping the council to achieve its recycling targets, he played a key role in helping to achieve the internationally recognised Environmental Management Standard ISO14001 in March 2006.

(PR/NS)