An awareness raising and promotional campaign devised and delivered by Resource Cumbria has taken top honours at a prestigious national ceremony. 'Recycle for Barrow' was awarded the Best Communication Campaign of the Year honour, sponsored by UPM, at the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) Awards held at the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool on October 7. The campaign beat off stiff competition from Cheshire West and Chester Council, Hampshire County Council and our own R Factor campaign which were also shortlisted.

The campaign enabled Barrow Borough Council to successfully launch a new plastics and cardboard recycling collection service while at the same time introducing a reduced capacity waste collection service - effectively halving the size of the borough's household refuse bin.

'Recycle for Barrow' comprised a fully integrated robust communications campaign featuring press, radio and outdoor advertising, how-to guides and collection calendars delivered to every household, and a host of roadshows in a variety of locations from schools to shopping centres where recycling officers were on hand to explain and demonstrate the new system. It was funded mainly by external funding secured from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Councillor Ken Williams, deputy leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: "It's a fantastic achievement for Barrow and the Resource Cumbria partnership to win such a prestigious national award and this is a testament to the people of the borough who have really got behind the new improved waste and recycling service.

"While this type of recognition is less important than the hard work the public have undertaken, it's a great opportunity to say to everyone who has embraced the new services: Thanks and keep up the good work."

Since the launch of the new service Barrow has almost doubled its recycling levels - this June Barrow Borough Council reported recycled rates of 40% compared to just 20% during the same period last year.