GAAW is an in-house initiative aimed at improving Cumbria County Council's (own) environmental performance, by addressing staff's behaviours and attitudes towards their responsibility to environmental issues and practical solutions. The initiative was started just over 2 years ago but initially struggled to grow due to limited staff resources. In May 2008 an officer was brought in to expand the initiative, to publicise it more effectively and to better support people who were involved in it.

The following information comes from:

Kathryn Tye
Environmental Performance Officer
Sustainability Team | Environment | Cumbria County Council
Nisi Prius Court | Carlisle | Cumbria | CA3 8LZ
T: 01228 221025

GAAW covers the following areas for which I've given you a quick round up of some of the things that we are doing:

Waste and Recycling

• Our aim is to ultimately get internal recycling facilities and external collections into every one of our 250 offices across the county. So far, we have recycling facilities for paper, glass, cans, plastics, printer and toner cartridges, WEEE and card in our main and most offices in Carlisle and Kendal, and in all fire stations. The next stage is to roll these out to West Cumbria and Penrith. We are also expanding on the types of waste being collected, and we are now collecting fluorescent light tubes, batteries and compost in some areas.
• To date our champions have been collecting recyclable waste and emptying these bins, but I have started a pilot scheme to get cleaners to empty these bins along with normal waste in order to free up champion's time.
• With this, we are going to reduce the number of 'desk side' bins in all offices - allowing for a 'recycling station' and a large waste bin instead.
• We are developing a waste minimisation programme

Energy and Water

• The CCC is trying to cut its own energy bill by £160k next year.
• GAAW carries out Energy walkrounds in offices - and has involved champions in this. From here, our Energy manager can determine what needs to be done to make each office more efficient.
• 'Bottled' drinking water systems are being phased out and replaced by 'mains-fed' water systems. There are only 46 bottled systems left - these will be replaced after planning regs have been addressed in listed buildings.
• Hippos are in toilets where appropriate and PIR systems are being put into urinals.
• TRVs are being put onto radiators where appropriate.
• We are getting rid of most fridges in meeting rooms in Carlisle and Kendal as they tend to only be used for milk and waste energy (about 12).
• I've sent out several reminders for saving energy to staff along with our energy saving tips leaflet inc. turn off lights, turn down heating etc.
• I've been in talks about setting up a new biofuel project in Whitehaven - to use used cooking oil from day centres in the area to power minibuses at the Hensingham site to transport service users. Amey have got involved in this and so far everyone is happy to support, including our own chief executive.

Procurement

• Several Procurement projects have overlapped with Sustainability issues and have been influenced by GAAW. These include the contract for recycled paper and envelopes (GAAW are trying to get 100% recycled paper use throughout CCC which is near completion), bottled water to mainsfed water, hire car contracts (only cars in the top 2 carbon emissions bands are now acceptable), cleaners contracts to include emptying recycling bins.

Transport

• GAAW is working with the EST to hold a transport roadshow on smarter driving and sustainable transport. First one is in Carlisle 10 Dec and they are aimed at raising staff's awareness of what the CCC is doing re: sustainable transport and also how to drive more efficiently
• Travel Planning - GAAW are working with the transport team to develop travel plans for each area
• Subsidised Public Transport Travel - I am trying to get this project off the ground - we are in talks with the bus company to develop a subsidised bus ticket project for CCC staff
• Cycle to Work - supported by GAAW and publicised
• Liftsharing - I regularly remind staff to liftshare and we have our own Cumbria Liftshare site - which Eden DC are part of. I am currently negotiating a deal with liftshare to include the other district councils in the area.
• Videoconferencing is being publicised as an alternative to travelling to meetings (see below).

IT / Technology

• Videoconferencing - developing networks and expanding sites - GAAW publicising it too and offering demos.
• Winterms - piloting the use of smaller, simpler computers that can replace some PCs where not needed for difficult tasks - and they use 50% less energy. 5 being piloted across the county with planned roll outs to potentially 500 staff.
• Working from home / Remote working - developing plans to allow staff to work from home - secure working and securing networks on laptops (reduces travel into work etc) where appropriate
• Printer rationalisation being rolled out across the county
• Server Virtualisation also being carried out across the county
• Looking to have corporate screen savers on all PCS reminding staff to turn off their computers and lights etc.
• Online FORUM for staff to discuss green issues / raise concerns
• Online intranet - support to champions and lots of info for staff and contact info.
  
  

Publicity

• Regular reminders to staff of who we are
• Competitions
• Intranet publications
• News items / press releases
• Recruitment of champions
• Awareness posters
• Induction training being developed about GAAW

Environmental Champions

• We now have 60 champions across the county. Aim is to have at least one champion in every office / team.
• We offer support to champions - which wasn't there before. Toolkits being developed, Forum, contacts, networks, meetings, minutes, intranet info and regular email updates.

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