A CROSS Hills company has struck gold for its green credentials.

Airedale Chemical has been awarded gold status in the Zero Waste Scheme.

The initiative recognises organisations which are driving down waste from landfill.

Airedale Chemical's latest accolade comes just months after it received a silver award for environmental best practice from The Green Organisation.

The Skipton Road firm has not only completely cut out materials heading to landfill, but recycles waste items for use in energy production and community projects.

Karen Waddington, health and safety advisor at Airedale Chemical, said: "It took a big shake-up of our systems to implement the original programme to eliminate landfill waste, but the concept was embraced by staff in every department and quickly took off.

"We wanted to capitalise on that success and took it a step further by not only saving waste from landfill, but actually finding practical and positive uses for as many of our unwanted items as possible.

"Some of our waste now goes to third parties for use in the production of energy, our bulk storage containers are re-conditioned and re-used and some of the smaller items are utilised creatively by community groups.

"As a result we are now around £800 per month better off due to less skips of waste being taken off site and from the rebates we receive for recycled items."

The company recently agreed with Cross Hills Parish Council to maintain its public conveniences – providing regular deep cleans – and it has launched the Airedale Foundation, to support local charities and community projects.