Sutton Council

12:23pm Thursday 13th March 2008

In 1997, the London Borough of Sutton became the first local authority to gain EMAS (Eco Management Audit Scheme) registration. Since then it has progressively improved its' environmental performance and in May 2005 adopted Towards One Planet Living' with 10 focus areas as its environmental sustainability strategy.

Due to its significance, we are focusing on those relating to climate change over the next few years. This work includes two key programmes: -

Smarter Travel Sutton - This three-year project is funded by Transport for London. It aims to promote green travel and reduce traffic congestion in the area and thus reduce the climate change impact transport in Sutton.

Stop Climate Change - This £150,000 DEFRA funded Climate Change Challenge project will survey views across the borough on the issue of climate change and then seek to encourage and support people to make a small change that will make a big saving. The programme will run until February 2008 and learning from it will be shared with other local authorities and businesses.

It is anticipated that the successful outcomes of these projects will be replicated elsewhere.

In addition to this, Sutton has key facilities and partnerships to help engage the community: -

• Recycle Not Waste - Sutton will continue to push recycling, aiming for a household recycling rate of 45-50% by 2010.

• Sutton Ecology Centre: This Local Nature Reserve provides an educational facility for schools in and around Sutton as well as providing the public with advice on how to be green, outdoor volunteering opportunities and adult training courses.

• BEDZED: This is the UK's largest living Eco-Village with 100 homes, community facilities and workspace. The heating requirements of these homes are 10% of that of conventional houses. BEDZED is situated in Hackbridge, and residents are working to make this the first sustainable Ward in Sutton.

• EcoLocal: A charity that promotes Environmental Initiatives in Sutton, is almost unique. Sutton will continue to support and develop work in partnership with them.

CONTACT DETAILS

Civic Offices, St. Nicholas Way, Sutton, SM1 1EA Telephone: (020) 8770 5000

Environment & Leisure Group

24 Denmark Road, Carshalton, SM5 2JG
Telephone: (020) 8770 5000
Fax: (020) 8770 6112

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