LOCAL businesses and organisations in the county have just a few weeks left to enter Devon s most prestigious environmental business competition

LOCAL businesses and organisations in the county have just a few weeks left to enter Devon's most prestigious environmental business competition.

Entries for this year's DEBI awards - the Devon Environmental Business Initiative - must be in by Tuesday, October 7.

Winners and the overall champion will be announced at a special awards ceremony at the Met Office in Exeter on Thursday, November 20.

The Devon Environmental Business Awards have been running for 16 years. The competition is open to all companies, organisations and community groups which have taken, or are taking steps, to minimise their environmental impact.

There are four categories in this year's DEBI competition which gives businesses more than one bite of the environmental cherry: Carbon Reduction, Sustainable Tourism, Greening Devon and Food and Farming.

One of these four category winners will be crowned this year's overall champion, an accolade which has brought considerable recognition and benefits to previous winners such as, the current winner, Higher Wiscombe of Southleigh.

DEBI's chairman, Andy Vickery, says all the previous winners are evidence that the DEBI awards are a great prospect for any local business: "To be publicly acknowledged as one of Devon's greenest businesses in arguably the greenest county in the country is a fantastic opportunity for any organisation and its reputation."

Organisations that have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint have the chance to win this year's Carbon Reduction award while the Sustainable Tourism award is likely to be one of the most hotly-contested categories reflecting the continued commitment among Devon's tourist attractions and accommodation providers to fly their environmental colours.

The DEBI Food and Farming award is a new category aimed at those working within the food and farming sectors who can demonstrate their commitment to Devon in the provision of and sourcing of goods and produce form the local area.

Finally, the Greening Devon category will be looking for a winner from a diverse range of entries including schools and charities whose efforts have gone that extra mile for the benefit of the whole of the county.

If you would like to enter this year's DEBI competition visit www.debi-online.org.uk or call (08452) 573324 for more details.