Glasgow Scotland, March 28, 2006—A Glasgow firm which recycles carpets has swept up at a national awards event. Ibrox based Spruce Carpets launched a year ago by 25-year-old Kate Atkinson, collects good-quality unwanted carpets, cleans and refurbishes them and supplies them at low cost to the general public, according to the Times & Herald.
Created to help disadvantaged people in the area, it has become a local success story and now it has picked up the Innovation title at the Community Recycling Network for Scotland awards.
Presenting the title, Matt Lewis, chairman of the Community Recycling Network for Scotland, said: "Projects such as Spruce Carpets certainly demonstrate the best about community recycling.
"Not only are they being innovative and dynamic in collecting waste for recycling, they are adding value by providing jobs, often for people at the margins of the labour market, and real economic benefit for their respective communities."
The operation employs five full time staff, two trainees; a figure which is soon to double, as well as a team of volunteers.
In less than 13 months, the not-for-profit firm is about to become self sufficient.
Money is being invested in a replication project which will see a franchise program developed and the concept rolled out across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
And next month the firm will move to larger premises in Ibrox to support a new arm of the business. More than £70,000 is being invested to create Spruce Carpet Tiles.
The spin-off will provide recycled carpet tiles to charities, businesses and community groups on a contract basis.
Spruce Carpets' Business manager Marissa Lippiat said: "The timing of the award is great. It has arrived at a time when we are doing new things and at a stage where we need to become self-sufficient; and we are well on our way to achieving that.
Last year the community recycling sector diverted more than 60,000 tons of waste from landfill--more than any single Scottish local authority--and created 700 jobs and 2000 volunteering or training opportunities.
