The best environmental deeds of 2011 have been revealed

On 1^st December, at 14 o’clock the Minister for the Environment Keit Pentus announced the most spectacular environmental deeds of this year in the F-building in Tallinn.

The following candidates took part in the competition: 9 environmental deeds, 14 environment makers and 14 candidates for the “small environmental deed”. Anyone could nominate candidates for the environmental deed and the “small environmental deed”, it was also allowed to enter self as a candidate. The environmentally friendly enterprise of the year could be put forward either by the enterprise itself or by a professional association.

“The environmental deed of the year is a good example of how to combine a smart idea, innovation and caring for what is old and valuable,” explained the Minister for the Environment Keit Pentus. She added that awarding the title of the environmental deed of the year is designed to acknowledge those, who have implemented new solutions and who are good examples of how to consider the need to protect the nature during economic development.

The evaluation commission awarded the winners in three categories: the environmental deed of 2011 award, for which the deeds that increased the public environmental awareness were nominated; the “small environmental deed” of 2011 award, where the projects connected with environmental education of children and the youth competed; and the environment maker of 2011 award, where the enterprises that stood out with their environmental performance were nominated. The best participants will be acknowledged by the Ministry for the Environment with cash and non-cash prizes, as well as with the right to use the mark of an environment maker, environmental deed and environmental “small deed”.

The following deserve recognition:

Environmental deed of 2011 award:
* MTÜ Eesti Loodushoiu Keskus, “HappyFish”
The aim of the “HappyFish” project is to restore spawning areas on the banks of the river Emajõgi, as well as to expand the estuaries of the old rivers of Emajõgi from sediment and to clear the flood plains by removing the underwood. The project is beneficial not just for the fish, but also for nature conservationists, fishermen and boat users.

“Small environmental deed” of 2011 award:
* MTÜ JCI GO Koda, “Raising awareness of litter in children”
MTÜ JCI GO Koda has done admirable work in educating children about waste. For example, a play “Garbage wolf and Super rabbit” was staged, which has been performed 50 times to the children all over Estonia. A DVD of the play has been produced as well, and it can be shown as educational material to children in kindergartens and elementary schools.

Environment maker of 2011 award:
In the environmental management category:
* Viru Keemia Grupp (VKG)
VKG received its winning points for implementing the system of environmental management, which means that the enterprise has mapped every possible activity related to its operations that could influence the environment and considered its environmental impact. As a result, VKG is able to use its resources better and in a more sustainable way, to ensure control over environmental pollution and over its reduction in accordance with the plans, and also to follow the principles of socially responsible behaviour.

In the environmentally friendly process category:
* Ragn-Sells AS
Ragn Sells AS has implemented a high-tech mechanical-biological recycling of household mixed waste, which is unique both in Estonia and in the whole of Northern Europe. Its aim is to use more of the basic waste (85%), from which the materials intended for recycling, that are used as raw material in producing new products, are sorted out in the new plant. The waste that is not suitable as raw material is turned into fuel that is used in energy production. Ash from the energy production is, in turn, used for manufacturing building materials. Household waste has never before been used in Estonia for recycling in such quantities.

In the environmentally friendly product/service category:
* Baltic Agro AS
Baltic Agro AS offers fertilizing services with special slurry spreading machine. The machine spreads slurry to the field very evenly, in accordance with the spreading norm, burying slurry into the soil and also treating the soil surface with disking equipment. By doing this there is no need to cultivate the earth in addition to spreading, and the fields are immediately ready for sowing. Liquid manure from the farmer’s own barns, as well as liquid manure from the farmers who do not have fields, is used as raw material.