Performance Improvement Plan 2024 - 2025 Quarter 1 Update Report p5
Improvement Objective 3:
Planet - We will reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability.
By:
- Moving towards cleaner energy and reducing our consumption.
- Delivering an effective and efficient Waste Management Service.
- Supporting biodiversity.
- Reaching environmental standards and targets.
- Sharing learning and best practice.
Who is responsible:
- Director of Community
- Interim Director of Operations
Why are we doing this?
- The actions set out to achieve this objective align with the key priorities identified through public consultation. They demonstrate how the Council is leading by example, whilst also working to engage and educate on sustainability. They assist the development of the borough’s electric vehicle charging network, they focus on providing an effective and efficient waste management service, and they demonstrate support for the biodiversity within the borough.
- Our citizens identified help to reduce consumption, waste and litter, and awareness and assistance in tackling climate change as the two most important things the Council could do to be more environmentally friendly. Adopting environmentally sustainable transport ranked third and protecting plants and animals ranked fourth (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
- Measures to address climate change, environmental awareness, and the importance of respect for the local and natural environment, were points raised throughout the Community Planning Review (2022) consultation.
- The phase out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is 2035.
The pages that follow outline our progress towards achieving our outcomes for citizens.
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Outcome 1 - Energy-saving and clean energy projects within Council buildings |
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|---|---|
| Measure 1 | 6 energy-saving projects delivered by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | LED lighting was installed at Sullatober Household Recycling Centre in May 2024. LED lighting will be installed at a further 5 Council-owned locations by 31 March 2025. |
| Measure 2 | 4 clean-energy projects delivered by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | New Solar PVs are due to be installed at 2 Council-owned locations by 31 March 2025. We also plan to fit 2 of our current installations with battery storage, supporting our journey to net zero. |
| Measure 3 | Approximately 77,000kg CO2e savings by 31 March 2025 (lifecycle saving - 1.5m kg). |
| Status: Not due yet | This data will be available in April 2025. |
| Measure 4 | Approximately £80,000 savings through energy projects by 31 March 2025 (lifecycle savings - £16m). |
| Status: Not due yet | This data will be available in April 2025. |
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Outcome 2 - Expansion of electric vehicle chargepoints within the borough |
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| Measure 1 | 12 fast chargers procured through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) by 30 September 2024. |
| Status: On track | The tender process is underway, and is on track to award the contract by the end of September 2024. |
| Measure 2 | Installation date for ORCS chargers confirmed by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Not due yet | The date of installation will be confirmed upon the award of contract. |
| Measure 3 | 6 upgraded charge stations through ESB by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | The 6 locations have been agreed and are on track for delivery by 31 March 2025. |
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Outcome 3 - Achievement of our statutory Waste Management targets |
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| Measure 1 | At least 50% of household waste collected sent for recycling by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: Achieved |
From April 2023 to March 2024, 50.7% of household waste collected was sent for recycling. This is a reduction on last year’s result of 51.4%, and below the Northern Ireland 2023/24 council average of 51.6%, with annual rates ranging from 60.9% to 41.1%. A downward trend has been noted across all local councils. We are taking a number of steps to positively influence recycling rates, such as working alongside the Waste Resources Action Programme to co-design and promote waste and recycling communications campaigns. Verified data for April to June 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in the six-month update report. |
| Measure 2 | A maximum of 16,387 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
From April 2023 to March 2024, the amount of biodegradable waste collected that was sent to landfill increased to 15,239 tonnes. This is up 4.7% from the previous year and is the fourth consecutive rise in the borough since 2019/20. To reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, we operate organic and dry recycling kerbside collections, textile and wood disposal services, and deliver various communications campaigns throughout the year. Verified data for April to June 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in the six-month update report. |
| Measure 3 | Less than 75,797 tonnes collected municipal waste arisings by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
From April 2023 to March 2024, at 74,824 tonnes, there was a modest increase in the volume of collected municipal waste arisings, representing a 1.9% rise from the previous year. We delivered a number of programmes to support local communities and promote re-use in 2023/24, such as the School Uniform Scheme, Christmas Toy Container Scheme, and more. Verified data for April to June 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in the six-month update report. |
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Outcome 4 - Delivery of our Tree and Woodland Management Strategy |
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| Measure 1 | 5,000 trees planted within the borough by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved | Over 350,000 trees have been planted since April 2024, in partnership with Northern Ireland Water. The majority were planted at Woodburn Forest, and the remainder via a local community group and local primary schools. |
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Outcome 5 - Achievement of environmental targets and accreditations, where viable |
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| Measure 1 | Re-certification of International Management Standard ISO14001 by 31 August 2024. |
| Status: Achieved | The external audit took place on 13 August 2024 and re-certification was obtained for another 3 years. No non-conformances or observations for improvement were identified. |
| Measure 2 | A minimum of Gold Status in the NI Benchmarking Survey by 30 November 2024. |
| Status: On track | The survey was submitted to Business in the Community in June 2024. The outcome is expected in November 2024. |
| Measure 3 | Gaps identified in the 2023 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey addressed by 31 October 2024. |
| Status: On track |
We have taken the following steps to address the gaps identified:
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Outcome 6 - Opportunities to engage in environmental education programmes |
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| Measure 1 | 10 community engagement sessions held on Waste and Recycling, and Climate and Sustainability by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | We delivered 5 sessions to a range of community groups between April and June 2024. |
| Measure 2 | Support for the Eco-Schools programme, with a 5% increase in the number of schools with Green Flags by 30 June 2025. |
| Status: On track | As of June 2024, 26 schools had Green Flag status, our baseline for the upcoming year. An Eco-Schools Cluster information evening will take place in October 2024. |
| Measure 3 | Delivery of 5 circular economy waste initiatives by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track |
We aim to deliver 5 initiatives this year, as follows:
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