BUSINESSES were honoured for their green efforts at a ceremony last night.

More than 300 people heard former Environment Secretary John Gummer praise the work of the Groundwork Business Environment Association at its annual awards ceremony at Ewood Park, Blackburn.

The association, which has hundreds of member firms across East Lancashire, offers practical advice to firms on areas including waste reduction and recycling.

Winners were: Energy Management: North West Water.

Waste Minimisation: M&G Plastics, Darwen.

Environment & the Community: ICI, Darwen.

Innovation and Technology: Cronkshaw Fold Farm Study Centre, Rossendale.

Environmental Management: Speciality Coatings, Darwen.

WaterWise: Envirotec Valeting, Blackburn.

Area awards were made to Specialist Coatings (Blackburn with Darwen); Paperworks Recycling (Burnley); Gaskell Textiles (Hyndburn); REM (Pendle) and JH Birtwistle (Rossendale). A special award was made to British Aerospace for a project to pass on environmental good practice to small firms across East Lancashire.

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