MILL Gate Shopping Centre has won an international environmental award in a campaign honouring Britain’s greenest companies, councils and communities.

The centre was awarded the gold award in the waste management category at The International Green Apple Awards in recognition for its work in achieving zero waste to landfill.

The centre's manager Marie Gribben was presented with the award for environmental best practice at the House of Commons last week.

In 2008, Mill Gate linked up with waste management specialists Bagnall and Morris in a bid to improve its recycling levels.

All of the shopping centre's waste is now either recycled or sent to B&M’s Carbon Neutral Waste Management Service to be converted into refuse derived fuel to power local homes and businesses.

Ms Gribben declared herself 'delighted' to have won the award, and added: “We have worked hard during the past years to constantly improve Mill Gate’s recycling levels and it is a fantastic achievement to have reached our goal of zero waste to landfill.”

Bury Market also picked up a Green Apple award of their own for a number of 'green' measures it has taken in recent years.

More than 500 nominated were received for the awards, which are supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies.