Climate Change Action Plan
In June 2007, aligned with our vision and aims, we signed up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, a pledge to address the issue of climate change. As part of the commitment to this pledge we launched our Climate Change Action Plan on 18th November 2009.
92,000 tonnesCalculations from municipal waste management data for 2008/09 show that we are making an estimated net saving equivalent to approximately 92,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. |
The Action Plan details how we will meet our target of reducing carbon emissions. We will increase carbon emission savings from approximately 92,000 tonnes of CO2 saved per year in 2008/09 to 370,000 tonnes in 2015 and 400,000 tonnes in 2020, equating to the amount emitted by 67,000 average UK households.
These targets will be met by achieving high recycling and composting rates (33 % in 2010 and at least 50 % in 2015) and 75 % guaranteed diversion of waste from landfill.
400,000 tonnesWe aim to increase carbon emission savings to approximately 400,000 tonnes per year by 2020. |
We are already implementing our waste strategy through the Recycling and Waste Management Contract. The Contract is founded on a commitment to environmental improvement, particularly in terms of the carbon benefits it will deliver. Large carbon savings will be achieved by:
- 50 % guaranteed recycling rates - reducing carbon emissions associated with the use of virgin materials.
- 75 % guaranteed landfill diversion – reducing methane emissions, the most potent of the greenhouse gases, from the decaying of waste in landfill.
- Combined Heat and Power energy recovery of Solid Recovered Fuel from new Anaerobic Digestion facilities – replacing fossil fuels in the generation of heat and power, producing even more carbon emission savings.
The Recycling and Waste Management Contract and the Climate Change Action Plan will together deliver impressive climate benefits.
Development of the Action Plan
At the outset it was clear that political and stakeholder support would be needed to bring the plan to fruition so we established a Working Group, including representatives of GMWDA, the Greater Manchester District Councils and GMWDA Councillors. In June 2009 Councillor Ray Barrow, Member for Bolton, was appointed Lead Member for Climate Change, driving forward the development of the Action Plan.
The Working Group, having identified priority areas for action, has formulated objectives and targets with a firm timetable for delivery and is co-ordinating these actions to take the plan forward. Progress will be assessed against targets, and the Group will ensure the plan is kept on track.
Authorities wishing to know more are encouraged to contact us.
Download
A copy of the Climate Change Action Plan can be downloaded here.
