Boys in blue are turning green.

SOUTH Wales Police have been rewarded for their efforts to turn from the boys in blue to the green team.

The force has been given Green Star status Envirowise for the significant steps they have taken to improve their environmental performance.

The force is the latest Welsh public sector organisation to be rewarded in the Waste Minimisation Campaign.

Setting up an environmental and energy conservation unit at their headquarters in Bridgend has led to a massive increase in the amount of material the force recycles.

Christine Mordecai, the head of central services at South Wales Police, said: "Thanks to the new waste minimisation initiatives, we have been able to effectively reduce landfill waste and promote a more sustainable and environmentally aware South Wales Police." Examples of steps taken by the force to reduce its waste include arranging for the free collection of materials for recycling, collection of used printer cartridges and diverting leather from landfill by sending it to Oxfam.

Christine added: "Since April 1, 2009, we have recycled around 280 tonnes of material that would otherwise have gone straight to landfill."

Ann Stevenson, Envirowise public sector programme director in Wales, said: "We are constantly on the look out for new Green Stars to be the face of our campaign."

CAPTION(S):

Tristan Davies, South Wales Police environmental conservation officer, celebrates the force's Green Star award