The short list for the National Recycling Awards 2005 has been published and there are some Gwent-based finalists including Newport Wastesavers.

Among the finalists are local authorities from across the country, high street names, community groups, manufacturers of recycled product and providers of recycling services.

The winners will be announced by TV presenter and columnist Paul Ross at a gala dinner in Sheffield later this month, following the opening day of the annual Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee conference, which takes place at Sheffield City Hall on October 25 and 26.

The awards are designed to recognise innovation and excellence in recycling on a national scale over the previous 18 months.

They are open to any organisation, community group or company that is affected by recycling, plays an active part in the recycling process or is involved in the production chain of recycled products.

Established seven years ago by Materials Recycling Week (MRW), the awards have proved increasingly popular.

Four new categories were introduced this year: Best Local Authority and Community Sector Partnership, Best Retail Recycling Initiative, Best Commitment to Health & Safety Practices and the Lifetime Achievement Award (which will be voted for by readers of MRW).

The entries were judged by a panel of industry professionals chaired by Jane Rayner, group editor of MRW. The judges included: Neil Ferris, LARAC vice-chairman; Andrew Hartley, programme director for Recycle Action Yorkshire; George Bond, president of the British Metals Recycling Association; Barbara Herridge, executive director, Waste Watch; Julie Brown, head of communications and PR, Waste and Resources Action Programme; Alistair KJ Lamont CIWM president 2004-2005; Paul Rogers, group energy and waste manager, Whitbread and Martin Bragg, municipal area manager, Isuzu Truck.

Jane Rayner said: "These are the industry's premier awards and the standard was again very high this year. We've introduced new categories to reflect the changes within the industry and these attracted a large number of entries. This made the judging process even more challenging - although this was a great situation to have to deal with."

The finalists include:

Best information and communication campaign: Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Pendle Borough Council; Ptarmigan PR for Cartridge World; Somerset County Council.

Recycled product of the year: BPI Recycled Products for 100 per cent recycled polythene sacks; BPI Recycled Products for Visqueen Building Products; Envirosystem (UK) Ltd.

Best retail recycling initiative: Closed Loop London and Marks & Spencer; JD Wetherspoon; The Co-operative Group.

Best industry recycling initiative: Balfour Beatty Rail Track Systems Ltd; Tyco Electronics UK Ltd; United Utilities.

Best innovation in market development: Ambiente Housing Systems; Envirosystem (UK) Ltd.

Waste minimisation project of the year: Balfour Beatty Rail Track Systems Ltd; HMYOI Wetherby; The National Wood Recycling Project.

Best commitment to health and safety practices: Cumbria Waste Management Ltd; ECT

Recycling; Verdant Group Plc; Wakefield Metropolitan District Council; H Williams & Sons Ltd.

Best partnership project for recycling: Carrick District Council; Norfolk County Council; Traid; Wincanton, Comet and Remploy.

Recycling officer of the year: Kenny Boag - South Lanarkshire Council; Nicola Buck - London Borough of Barnet; John Bugby - Kettering Borough Council; Shona Dryburgh - Moray Council; Alison Hunter - Vale Royal Borough Council.

Best local authority initiative: Cardiff County Council; Carrick District Council; Leeds City Council; Somerset County Council.

Recycling target success: Cherwell District Council; Harborough District Council; Leeds City Council; Vale Royal Borough Council.

Best local authority and community sector partnership: Newport City Council and Newport Wastesavers; Lancashire County Council; Wakefield Metropolitan District Council; Warwickshire County Council.

Best community project for recycling: HMYOI Hindley Wigan and Leigh College of Learning & Skills; Newport Wastesavers; Tower Hamlets Co-operative Development Agency.

For more information or to book a table at the awards dinner see www.nationalrecyclingawards.com or call 020 8277 5501.