MEET the Cornwall recycling collectors who want to “make the world a better place”.

Mark Hendra, Brent Cox and Dave Anderton all work out of Biffa’s Newham depot in Truro. They were named runners-up in the ‘Collection Crew of the Year’ category at the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management in London last Thursday.

They say working in their local community is so much more than providing a reliable waste collection service.

When they’re not collecting recycling from homes across central Cornwall on behalf of Biffa, they’re constantly on the lookout for how else they can make a difference.

When an elderly couple were having trouble putting their bags of waste out, the team found a spare wheelie bin at the depot, spruced it up and delivered it to the couple’s home in their own time.

Other odd jobs they’ve completed for residents include fixing a gate, repairing a washing line and mowing an overgrown front lawn.

They also work closely with several community and charitable groups in the area, including community litter picking events and recycling with Porthleven Environmental Group, and donating a container to collect old bras to raise money for a breast cancer charity.

The crew also give up their time to provide waste material to a local art group in Helston.

Brent has worked for Biffa for 34 years, Mark for seven and Dave for two.

“We don’t do it for the recognition or anything like that, we just want to make the world a better place,” said Mark. “For us, a little repair job might only take five or ten minutes, but to the other person, it’s a little act of kindness that might make a big difference to their lives.”

“We love being part of the community, whether that’s just saying hello to people on our rounds or giving them a bit of a helping hand if they need it.”

Biffa’s Cornwall operations manager Liam Stevens said: “Mark is a genuine, kind, conscientious, funny bloke with a can-do attitude. Factor in two willing and able loaders in Brent and Dave, it is a pleasure to have this crew working for Newham.”