SPINNING Gate Shopping Centre have achieved a sixth consecutive international Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice.

The multi-award-winning centre, in conjunction with their waste management partner B&M Waste Services Limited, has celebrated Green Apple success since 2018, achieving Best Practice for their waste management achievements.

The Leigh shopping centre has won the prestigious awards while competing against more than 500 other nominations in the international awards.

READ > Andy Burnham: Scrapping HS2 line treats people like 'second class citizens'

Leigh Journal: Spinning Gate's six Green Apple awardsSpinning Gate's six Green Apple awards (Image: Spinning Gate)
Over the past five years, Spinning Gatre has has reduced the total volume of waste produced from the site by 71% (a reduction of 31,110kg of waste).

With a current centre occupancy level of 94% and where footfall is increasing every day, 100% of the waste processed has been diverted from landfill while the centre has also reduced its energy consumption by 20% and reduced its water consumption by 11%.

During the year, the centre has implemented a number of environmental initiatives to contribute to its sixth award, including recycling a total of 10,104 items from its shops, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year. 

The centre also recycles used postage stamps, inviting shoppers to drop off their used stamps, and forwarding them on to Kicks Count charity for recycling. 

The Spinning Gate and waste management teams will travel to the Houses of Parliament in London next month to receive their award and celebrate their achievements.

Leigh Journal: The Spinning Gate team with James Grundy MP at the Green Apple awards in 2022The Spinning Gate team with James Grundy MP at the Green Apple awards in 2022 (Image: Spinning Gate)
Karen Cox, Centre Manager of Spinning Gate Shopping Centre said: "We are absolutely delighted to achieve our sixth consecutive Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice and are incredibly proud of our award winning team who continue to work hard whilst improving our environmental performance. 

"These awards are internationally recognised to improve environmental achievements, encouraging the efficient use of resources & increase social benefits through community engagement. 

We can’t wait to return to the Houses of Parliament in London to bring home our sixth award."

Following the sixth Green Apple win, the Leigh shopping centre has also been recognised inside The Green Book; the world’s only annual international work of reference on environmental best practice by companies, countries, councils and communities.