COMMERCIAL recycler and social welfare charity, Recycling Lives, has won the most prestigious corporate accolade a UK business can win.
Supported by the Westminster Foundation, Recycling Lives has won the coveted Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development following a recommendation from the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Her Majesty the Queen. Recycling Lives is a business that leads by example in environmental services, new business start up and social responsibility.
The company which operates a closed loop recycling system which ensures as little waste as possible goes to landfill, has more than 40 years experience and is known as an industry leader in the recycling waste management sector.
Sir Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, the sixth Duke of Westminster was the first person to pledge his support to the Recycling Lives Charity with a donation of £20,000.
As a thank you for his continued support, Recycling Lives has reserved the title of founding patron of the Charity, in his honour.
The Duke of Westminster backed Recycling Lives which not only recycles and teaches businesses to have good social responsibility but is also a charitable organisation that offers homeless and disadvantaged members of the community, an opportunity to seek a better future through job training, gaining employment and eventual independent living.
The North West Development Agency and the Communities from Local Government Fund have also backed the company’s social welfare agenda from the outset.
Recycling Lives’ core commercial activities include scrap metal recycling, End of Life Vehicle (ELV) processing and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling. 
Recycling Lives also has a commitment to helping start-up and developing businesses flourish by offering competitively priced office space in addition to business incubator services.
Currently it is offering other corporate businesses the opportunity to achieve good corporate social responsibility with a free CSR audit service.
Within the next five years Recycling Lives intends to launch around 50 new centre’s across the UK, in 2010 sites in Accrington, Blackpool, Leyland, Lancaster and Wigan will be explored.
Recycling Lives, described as a business with integrity, is hoping to be a part of all local authorities’ regeneration programmes.
Founder and Chairman of Recycling Lives, Steven Jackson said: “Recycling Lives is a business model developed specifically to practice sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility. This Royal patronage from HRH Queen Elizabeth II has helped Recycling Lives in gaining the support of Local Authorities and other organisations concerned with social impact throughout the United Kingdom.
“As the network of purpose built Recycling Lives centres expand, the company will continue to transfer skills into new regions and to create many new local jobs; with particular focus on improving recycling and manufacturing new products from recyclate. Each new Recycling Lives centre also facilitates the expansion of the Recycling Lives Charity; providing quality accommodation, training and enthusiasm to people that have found themselves homeless or in need. Recycling Lives support these people to regain a foothold within their community, gain employment and to live independently. The company is very proud to receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise on behalf of all our staff and Charity Residents.”
The Queen's Award for Sustainable Development recognises businesses which have made outstanding advances or have a high level of continuous achievement, in the environmental and social impacts included in sustainable development.
For more information log on to www.recyclinglives.com or call 01772 665949.