DO you know someone who is working hard for the environment and their communities in Blaenau Gwent?

Now is the time to nominate them for the Blaenau Gwent Council Environmental Awards. There's just three weeks left to get your nominations in for the third annual awards ceremony taking place later this year, featuring celebrity guest BBC Radio Wales presenter Roy Noble.

Apart from the ten categories, there will also be two special recognition awards, one for school entries (sponsored by Linpac) and one for all other entries (sponsored by Laing O'Rourke). These awards will be benches made from recycled plastic.

There are cash prizes and vouchers up for grabs in several categories and all winners will receive individually designed abstract wooden sculptures, made by a local craftsman from reclaimed wood.

Blaenau Gwent Council's executive member for environment, councillor Keith Barnes said, "This is an opportunity for the council to recognise the hard work of individuals, groups, businesses, schools and organisations in Blaenau Gwent that help to improve and enhance the local environment. There are a lot of people who do this in their communities, many of them volunteers, and the awards will help us to celebrate and congratulate their achievements, as well as encouraging other people to help to take responsibility for the environment.

"I would encourage the community to nominate anyone who they think deserves to be recognised for their efforts."

Anyone living or working in Blaenau Gwent is eligible to enter the awards.

This year there are ten different categories to choose from:

Business Award – for businesses demonstrating best practice in sustainability and environmental improvement. Environmental Innovation Award – for an individual or group that has produced an innovative sustainability project (recycling or refuse of materials, energy conservation) Environmental Initiative Award – for a group or business that has improved their surrounding environment, i.e cleaning up a local eyesore

Most Improved Cleanliness Award – for an individual, group or business whose activities have resulted in the most improvement in cleanliness. Citizen Award – for an individual who has made a real difference to the local environment. Pre-school Award – for pre-schools, nurseries and toddler groups who, for example, have created a garden or wildlife area, or a collage model out of junk. Primary/Secondary School Award – for any type of school environmental project. Community Award – for a group involved in an environmental project, such as litter picks, removing graffiti or creating a wildlife area

Carbon Reduction Award – a new category, awarded to the entrant most actively involved in employing carbon reduction techniques.