As a Council we treat sustainability and the implementation of
our climate change strategy and action plan as a
cross cutting issue for which all staff have a responsibility.
With input from the corporate management team, Climate Change
Steering Group and Green Issues Task Group, the Council's 'Green
Team' plays a vital role in engaging staff and leading or
participating in environmental initiatives.
The Green Team meets quarterly and has representatives from all
service areas including service partners Norfolk Property Services
(NPS), Suffolk Coastal Services (SCS) and DC Leisure.
Key achievements ...
Energy savings identified
Between 2008/9 and 2009/10 carbon savings of approximately 6% were
made through reduced use of electricity, gas and oil. The Green
Team contributed to this through audits (for example, members
identified pipes, flanges and cavity walls which needed insulation,
areas of buildings that were overheated and electrical items which
were left on overnight), work with NPS, and ongoing communication
to staff about energy efficiency.
Waste reduced
In 2009 the purchase of single use plastic cups for meetings and
staff was identified as a waste of money and natural resources.
In 2010, following communications with staff to ensure that they
provided their own mugs, the purchase of plastic cups for hot
drinks was stopped. This is estimated to save £400 a year and
provide a nicer drinking experience for staff and visitors.
There is also ongoing support for a 'reuse area' in the
Council's stationary store and for promoting items for reuse on the
Council's intranet to reduce waste and the costs associated with
it.
In-house recycling
Although paper and cardboard recycling was in place and effective,
the Green Team identified that the recycling provision needed
improving as other recyclable items were being disposed of in bins
destined for landfill.
In 2007 we installed 24 bins for steel and aluminium cans, clean
foil and plastic containers such as bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
It was agreed that the cleaners would empty these into a trade
wheeled bin for recycables so that the contents could be taken for
recycling.
The Green Team communicated the new scheme to staff and it is
included in the staff induction checklist to ensure new starters
are aware.
In 2008 we added a glass and drinks carton recycling service and
in 2009 we added a battery recycling service.
Quarterly and annual internal audits are carried out to check
and promote the scheme.
Composting success
In 2008 the Green Team identified that compostable waste was being
disposed of in bins destined for landfill. This was a waste of
money as we were charged for collection and disposal at a suitable
landfill site.
A staff composting facility was established, brown bins for
compostable waste were put in central locations to aid collection
and volunteers were found to manage the scheme.
In November 2009 two and a half bags of soil improver, suitable
for use on a staff member's allotment, were produced and taken
away. This saved the Council money in terms of waste disposal as
well as reducing methane generation in landfill.
In April 2010 four bags of soil improver, suitable for use on
two staff member's gardens, were produced.
Staff awareness sessions
In 2007 and 2008 we ran staff surveys both to engage and learn
from staff on the green agenda. In 2008 and 2009 we held
environmental awareness sessions for staff based on energy
efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transport.
Community litter picks
Volunteers from the Green Team have joined with members
of the
Greenprint Forum and Green Issues Task Group to
carry out annual spring, summer and autumn litter picks
at Woodbridge, Bawdsey and Felixstowe. These help to improve
the local environment and to raise the profile of the Council in
the local area.
