An eco-friendly dog who has recycled around 30,000 bottles in his lifetime will receive a top Council accolade.
Tubby the Labrador will receive a Civic Award from Torfaen Council next month in recognition of his efforts.
Twice daily the pooch goes out for a walk and usually picks up at least six plastic bottles from wherever he can find them.
The seven-year-old then happily crushes them in his mouth and takes them back to his owner Sandra Gilmore, of Cadoc Road, West Pontnewydd, who recycles them in her black box.
Mrs Gilmore, 52, said: “I’m thrilled that Tubby is going to receive a Civic Award for doing such as great job for the environment and for the council.
“But he’s not letting all this fame and all these awards go to his head – his passion will always be plastic bottles.”
Councillor John Cunningham, interim Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, added: “Everyone is doing a fantastic job by helping us become the best performing authority for recycling in South Wales but Tubby’s efforts are so extraordinary that we felt he deserved special recognition.”
Torfaen Mayor Bob Jones will present the award at a ceremony at the Civic Centre in Pontypool.
He said: “Tubby is an amazing dog with remarkable green credentials. I look forward to giving him his award and a special pat on the head next month.”
Since the council revealed Tubby’s feat a year ago, he has been featured worldwide in newspapers and magazines and on television and radio
He has also been showered with gifts including a luxury dog bed, £200 voucher for dog food and body warmer. And the council presented him with a bone to thank him for his efforts.
Tubby will also be immortalised in a cartoon strip, the Trash Titans, alongside the council’s recycling mascot Dan Can the Super Recycler, Dan’s sidekick Billy Bottle and three residents who have already been turned into comic characters.
Bryan McDowell, 74, of Cwmbran; Chantel Daniels, 43, of Pontypool, and Callum Lewis, eight, of Blaenavon, were recruited as the local authority’s recycling superheroes last year and will also appear on posters around the county borough later this year.
