brag Brentford Recycling Action Group

1. brag Brentford Recycling Action Group Local business and the environment what can be achieved, how to do it

2. Overview • Background and objectives • brag and local business • 3 great reasons to green your office • Best practice case study • brag Workplace Toolkit • Summary

3. Brentford Recycling Action Group Established 1999 “To raise awareness/advance education in the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste materials of all kinds and to promote, and assist on promoting, activities and facilities which seek to improve the local environment (Brentford) for the benefit of the local people.”

4. Early Days • Christmas leaflet drop • AGM in 2000 formed committee • Local school kids produce logo

5. A-Z Recycling Directory • Given to large number of Brentford Residents to show them what they can do with their rubbish

6. Eco-Day

8. New Homeowners’ Pack

9. brag and local business • Until now brag have focused mainly on residential households • Today we would like to help local businesses reduce their waste • brag intend to focus on office waste not industrial waste

10. 3 great reasons to green your office • All businesses have to pay for waste to be removed • cost per container is typically £100/ tonne • £15/tonne is landfill tax • When materials, treatment, energy and wasted labour considered cost often 5-20 times cost of disposal • It can be cheaper to have your recyclable waste collected …some companies collect for free • A greener office is a better place to work

11. Individuals’ responsibility • Its not the workplace that needs to be ‘green’, but the people in it • Each person needs to reduce their own environmental impacts by taking small steps • Companies need help to do this: • Environmental Best Practice Programme give free audits to small companies • brag are considering putting together a ‘Workplace Toolkit’ full of helpful ideas and contacts

12. brag Workplace Toolkit Our concept is: • Internet-based information service • Case studies for download • Comprehensive list of London-based waste services • How to get started guidance • E.g. Recycling Ambassadors – a senior member of staff to champion the cause and ambassadors to help promote and monitor its success • Access to expert advice via e-mail

13. BEST PRACTICECASE STUDY Greening the office at Hounslow Borough Council • Took everyone’s normal bins away and introduced ‘dual desk bin system’: • Small black bins for rubbish • Small green tub for recyclables: white and coloured paper, envelopes, newspapers, magazines, cans and foil • Staff then had to start emptying their own bins at centralised collection points once a day • If they didn’t do it, waste simply piled up!!

14. BEST PRACTICECASE STUDY Greening the office at Hounslow Borough Council • Recycling champions in each area to inform others • Scheme includes bins for toner cartridges – want to expand in future • Positive impact: • Encourage people to sort rubbish • Take responsibility for own rubbish and minimise • LBH have had to change paper collection from once to twice a week

15. GREENING THE • WORKPLACE • Going Green • Plants • Green Information • SAVE ENERGY & WATER • 3. Computers • 4. Kettles • TRANSPORT • 8. Bikes & Buses • 9. Meetings & Location • WASTE • 10. Printers • 11. E-mail • 13. Reuse • 14. Recycle • 15. Purchasing Guide • 16. Use a Mug BEST PRACTICECASE STUDY

16. GREENING THE • WORKPLACE cont… • Going Green • Plants • Green Information • SAVE ENERGY & WATER • 5. Taps • 6. Toilets • TRANSPORT • 7. Cars • 8. Bikes & Buses • WASTE • 10. Printers • 12. Photocopiers • 13. Reuse • 14. Recycle • 15. Use a Mug

17. What brag can do • If you agree that the amount of waste your office is creating is a problem let us show you and your colleagues how to solve it • We’ve made a start on the toolkit: • Troubleshooting guidance • List of companies that can help you • Initial case study • First steps in greening your office • Now your input would be really useful

18. First steps… If you want to get started today, consider: 1) Audit • A good place to start is to have an audit from the Environmental Best Practice Programme. FREE to small companies. • Or join the Waste Watch Business Network 2) Develop an Environmental policy for your business 3) Communicate your environmental improvement • Publicise your policy • Promote cost savings achieved

19. Summary • Promote simple measures everyone can take, without compromising organisational requirements or job performance • Use the principle of: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, Rubbish Responsibly • These simple measures will bring the greatest returns which will be good for morale. What’s more the benefits can be quantified.

20. Backup slides

21. Example Environment Policy • Although Jim & Son Ltd is not part of an industry which directly impacts on the environment it is committed, where possible, to take responsibility to reduce harmful effects by: • Meeting or exceeding any EEC/government regulations applicable to Jim & Son Ltd’s situation • Establishing standards of it’s own where regulations do not exist • Continuously reviewing purchase practices and internal operations • Ensuring, where practical, that goods and services provided by suppliers are of reduced environmental impact • Taking all reasonable care to ensure the health and safety of employees and visitors to our organisation • Jim & Son Ltd will ensure that all employees and other relevant/organisations understand and are accountable to these policy considerations and put in place systems to implement and review the policy

22. Project Highlights 1999-2004 Events • Brentford Carnival • Eco-day – Green Dragon School • Group involvement in local clean-ups Publications • New Home Owners Pack • A-Z Recycling Directory • Email discussion group / www.bragonline.org.uk • brag Mag Advocacy/ lobbying • Invited to Mayor’s Waste Strategy Consultation • Invited to speak at Recycling Consortium Events