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Environment and greener living
Local green initiatives
All over the UK, local projects and initiatives are underway focusing on the environment and encouraging people and businesses to be greener. Below is a selection of some of these initiatives.
Your local council
Most local authorities have environmental schemes aimed at encouraging local residents to be greener - and schemes can vary from area to area. Check out what your local authority or council is doing.
Hartlepool Borough Council – ‘Adopt a plot’
With support from the Community Environmental team residents can take on a plot of land and plant trees, shrubs and flowers – helping wildlife.
Cardiff Council – ‘Tri-bag’ scheme
The recycling Tri-bag scheme is aimed at residents who live in areas where there are lots of properties with little or no storage space for wheeled bins. It allows them to separate recyclable waste and place into coloured bags.
Salford City Council – School visits
Salford’s Environmental Education and Awareness Team visits schools, youth and community groups to raise awareness of environmental topics - from recycling to the problems of littering.
Guildford – Hydro project
Over eight weeks, the council replaced an old water turbine with a new one and is using the power of the River Wey to generate electricity.
Croydon Council – Re-using furniture and computers
A local project run by a charity and supported by the council collects unwanted furniture and electrical items, refurbishes if required, and then sells on at low cost to local people.
Leeds City Council – Energy saving advice
Leeds’ ‘Fuelsavers’ team provides free and impartial energy efficiency advice to anyone living in Leeds. The team offers home energy checks, grant advice and training for groups.
Birmingham City Council – Local people’s group
The ‘sustainability forum’ meets to discuss, and act on, environmental and sustainability issues. One success was setting up a number of farmers’ markets where local people can buy fresh produce directly from suppliers.
Hull City Council – Online recycling directory
The council runs a detailed online directory for residents that shows them what to recycle, and where – from aerosols to zips.
Kent County Council – Cloth nappy service
Kent County Council is committed to waste reduction, and runs the Kent Cloth Nappy Service, which provides information and advice on all aspects of using cloth nappies.
Torbay Council – Email alerts for residents
Residents can sign up to receive emails letting them know of planned activities affecting the local environment, conservation, countryside and towns.
Norfolk County Council – Biodiversity website
The council has developed a website for local people on the subject of biodiversity (the variety and number of different organisms found within a particular region).
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