BLACKBURN Rovers have scored a winner -- without kicking a ball!

Ewood officials have been highly commended for their management of waste.

In partnership with Blackburn-based Neales Waste Management, the club was short-listed in the waste minimisation category of the 2003 Lancashire Business Environmental Awards.

Rovers were nominated in the top five companies with under 250 full-time employees and although his team didn't win, stadium manager John Newsham was delighted to be 'highly commended.'

He explained: "With average crowds in excess of 26,000, Ewood generates approximately 215 tonnes of waste per annum.

"Prior to September 2002 it was all going to landfill, but following a full waste audit with Neales, it was clear that much could be recycled. We determined from that point to work towards recycling as much as possible and in our first 10 months, we comfortably exceeded our targets."

The club has built a dedicated waste recycling compound and installed equipment including a compactor unit, cardboard and paper bailer, containers for bottles and glass, a crushing unit for electric tubes and bulbs, along with paper stations in the offices.

Mr Newsham added: "We have a team of six, including myself and my deputy Gerald Heys, working on this project. Our waste to landfill has been reduced to about 116 tonnes, a significant reduction of almost 57 per cent.

"Through various initiatives, we have drastically reduced our waste disposal volumes to landfill, reduced our disposal costs and achieved recycling

figures far beyond our expectations."

An additional bonus from the innovative scheme is that all proceeds from the office white paper recycling are donated to Derian House Children's Hospice.

"Having set our stall out this time, our aim is to win the Environmental Award for our category next year, I am even taking a diploma myself to further our chances."