AN environmental scheme which will reward people, businesses and organisations in the district for embracing “green” initiatives is to be launched in January.

The Green Apple Awards, run by an independent, non political body called the Green Organisation, will recognise those who adopt greener ways of working and living and will recognise winners, picked by a judging panel, with certificates.

Craven District Council is putting £2,000 towards promotion of the awards which will include a celebration at the annual Council meeting with certificates handed out to winners by the outgoing chairman.

At a meeting of the policy committee last week members were told chief executive Paul Shevlin had been asked to look at a scheme which would promote and acknowledge the development of good practice across a range of businesses in Craven with regard to the green environmental agenda.

It was discovered that a national scheme was already in operations which covered the philosophy behind the idea and that it was proposed Craven “piggy back” the established Green Apple programme.

Councillor Carl Lis, lead member for the green agenda, told members: “We found this organisation which fits our requirements. There is not a lot of setting up needs to be done. We want to move on with this so we can award our first awards next year.”

Categories include carbon reduction, habitat and diversity, land regeneration, pollution and emission reduction, renewable heat, waste management, fuel efficiency, conservation and wildlife projects, water efficiency, sustainable water management and many more.

Entries will be judged by a green panel chaired by current chairman, Councillor Wendy Hull, Cllr Carl Lis, Mark Wolens, managing director of the Green Organisation and potentially two other appropriate judges.

Councillor Chris Rose said: “My heart leapt when I read this. This is something we can encourage. It’s vital we encourage a move towards helping with climate change. Every little bit helps.”

Councillor Peter Madeley added: “This is a first step to something that we can be proud of and can move forward with.”

Council leader Councillor Richard Foster added: “It is something that this authority can take part in.”

The committee agreed to implement the scheme with a budget of up to £2,000 allocated from underspends.

Winning entries will be submitted to the Green Apple Awards Programme and a donation made on the winners’ behalf to the Dales Woodland Restoration Programme.