How to Write a Winning Submission for the Recorra Recycling & Circularity Awards

Recorra has launched the first ever Recorra Recycling & Circularity Awards (RCAs), celebrating our clients’ impact in reducing waste through sustainable waste management and innovative recycling, tackling climate change through carbon reduction, and advancing the circular economy. 

With multiple categories designed to be inclusive of all our clients, from our independent cafes in Brighton to multi-site organisations in London, if you are using Recorra to make an impact you could be a winner.  

This blog gives you all the information you need to enter and boost your chances of becoming an RCA winner.

Why Recorra Launched the Awards

Recorra has launched the RCAs to celebrate the incredible impact our clients make by adopting ethical, conscious waste management practices that support circular economy principles. Whether it’s innovative waste collections that maximise resource recovery or creative workplace recycling education, Recorra is recognising and rewarding these sustainability wins.  

From small independent sites to BIDs and multi-occupancy buildings, from SE1 to Brighton and Lancing, if in 2025 you have used Recorra for your waste management and recycling, workplace supplies and/or sustainability consultancy, we are inviting you to enter the RCAs.

The Recorra RCA Categories

There are six categories to choose from. Enter one, or multiple. All entries are free and you can enter as many as you like. 

All submissions will automatically be entered into the running for Recorra’s Sustainable Business of the Year, our ultimate award. 

Choose from the following: 

• Recycling Excellence Award 

• Carbon Reduction Award 

• Waste Reduction & Reuse Award 

• Sustainable Procurement Award 

• Best Sustainability Engagement Programme 

• Individual Waste Warrior of the Year 

Tips for Writing a Winning Submission

The more details, the better. Tell us your business’ story, motivations, actions and achievements that make you a beacon of recycling and circularity.  

We have made submissions easy with our simple entry form. Fill out the form, select the drop–down for the award you’dlike to enter, and follow the prompts for each award. 

Keep it clear, answer the questions and prompts, and tell us your motivations. 

Your MyRecorra account will contain all the information you will need to submit your entry. 

Here’s what we are looking for in each submission. 

What to Include in Your Submission

Recycling Excellence Award

Tell us about your approach to recycling in 2025. You may wish to include:   

• The total volume of materials recycled (kg), recycling rate (%), number of active recycling streams, and any other relevant data  

• Any targets you set and the barriers you faced in improving recycling performance  

• How you increased recycling volumes, improved recycling rates, and reduced contamination (i.e., any initiatives, engagement activities, introducing signage, etc.)  

To be considered for this award, we ask you to confirm you are happy for a drop-in waste audit to be conducted to confirm contamination rates. 

Carbon Reduction Award

Tell us about your approach to carbon reduction in 2025. You may wish to include:   

• Reduction in carbon emissions (%), year-on-year reduction in general waste (%), changes in waste service (e.g., diverting from general waste to recycling), and adoption of low-carbon technologies or services  

• Ways you’ve been innovative or creative in your approach to carbon reduction (i.e., using LED lighting, smart thermostats, opting for paperless systems, etc.) 

Supporting details can be found on MyRecorra. 

Waste Reduction & Reuse Award

Tell us about your approach to waste reduction and reuse in 2025. You may wish to include:  

• Examples of how your organisation has prioritised recycled, refurbished, reused, or remanufactured products, and ethical, sustainable sourcing in procurement decisions 

• Any creative or innovative initiatives implemented to reduce waste and/or reuse materials 

• The number of new waste streams implemented 

• Reduction in total waste produced (% and kg) 

• How you integrate waste reduction and circular economy principles into your operations and/or procurement processes

• How your procurement decisions support waste minimisation (i.e. buying closed-loop products, choosing suppliers with take-back schemes, reducing single-use materials, etc.) 

Supporting details can be found on MyRecorra. 

Sustainable Procurement Award

Tell us about your approach to sustainable procurement in 2025. You may wish to include: 

• Sustainable and ethical products used in your business 

• Proportion of sustainable products purchased (%) 

• Use of sustainable logistics, such as cargo bike deliveries 

• Examples of how your organisation prioritises recycled, refurbished, reused, or remanufactured products, and ethical, sustainable sourcing in procurement decisions 

• How your procurement strategy supports the circular economy and reduces environmental impact 

Supporting details can be found on MyRecorra. 

Best Sustainability Engagement Programme

Tell us about your organisation and its approach to engagement and behaviour change in 2025. You may wish to include:

• How staff have been educated and engaged to use resources more efficiently (e.g. workshops, audits, campaigns, staff initiatives)
• Total hours of engagement or training activities delivered
• Changes made following advice from sustainability consultants
• Key sustainability challenges and the goals set to address them
• Performance data where available, such as recycling rate (%), year-on-year improvement (%), number of active waste streams, and waste volume (kg per FTE)

Individual Waste Warrior of the Year

Tell us about your workplace’s waste warrior. You may wish to include:   

• The individual’s contribution, actions, and measurable impact on sustainability initiatives and outcomes 

• Supporting data, photos, and/or testimonials 

• A photo of the individual, along with their job title and first and last names 

• Confirm your business and the nominee have given consent for Recorra to use this submission in its marketing materials, including a public vote on social media. 

Recorra’s Sustainable Business of the Year

All submissions to other award categories are automatically considered for Recorra’s Sustainable Business of the Year. 

Your sustainability achievements deserve recognition. By entering the Recorra Recycling & Circularity Awards, you showcase your commitment to reducing waste, cutting carbon, and advancing the circular economy. Every submission helps inspire others and drives positive change across industries. 

How to Enter

Entry is free and all Recorra customers who use our services for waste and recycling, workplace supplies, consultancy, or carbon accounting are able to apply. 

Simply head to the webpage below, scroll to the bottom, follow the instructions, and you could be celebrating a win with us in March!