All of these councils are partners in Project Integra, the long term waste strategy for Hampshire. The awards ceremony took place in exquisite surroundings kindly provided by Zurich Financial Services at Whiteley. This unusual and friendly gathering was only possible in Hampshire because of Project Integra, and the unique partnership between Hampshire's local authorities and the various other recycling organisations.

The Salvation Army clothing collection scheme is active throughout the United Kingdom, and Hampshire has proved an outstanding success, recycling over 4.5 million items of clothing (1,490 tonnes) in its 136 clothing banks in the last year.

Key to this success are the people of Hampshire, who put their unwanted clothes, shoes etc into plastic bags and place them in local Salvation Army clothing banks.

Paul Ozanne from the Fareham Salvation Army headquarters said, "We attach great importance to our excellent working relationship with Hampshire's Recycling Officers, whose friendly efficiency helps us to help those in greatest need."

From its church-based community centres, The Salvation Army provides a diverse range of social services in the poorest parts of Hampshire, and has specialised centres for substance misuse detoxification and homeless families.