Lib Dems deliver a greener borough

4.31.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Apr 2006

Stockwell Lib Dem campaigner Polly Mackenzie with one of the recycling banks introduced on estates

The last four years have seen the Lib Dems take action to make Lambeth a greener, more sustainable borough. Labour left behind a Council that had a stagnant recycling rate. In just four years the Lib Dems have trebled Lambeth's recycling from 7% to 24% through the new orange sack scheme, collecting more types of material, and revamping recycling facilities on housing estates and at schools.

At the same time Lib Dems have got the Council to use more recycled materials. An 'eProcurement' project has changed the way Lambeth buys goods, ensuring that all purchasing is done electronically and through preferred suppliers: only 100% post consumer recycled paper, remanufactured toner cartridges and Fairtrade tea and coffee may be purchased. This meant a doubling of the Council's spending on recycled and remanufactured products in 2005.

Lib Dem councillors have also worked to make developments more sustainable. We inserted a requirement in the draft 2004 Unitary Development Plan that all major developments of more than 10 dwellings or 1,000 sq. metres must incorporate equipment for renewable power generation so the development provides at least 10% of its own predicted energy need.

Additionally the Lib Dems have pushed to get the Council to make its own homes and buildings more environmentally friendly. Integrated solar roofs were installed at Langholm Close, generating 21 kwP of clean electricity and saving 8 tonnes of CO2 each year. On Angell Town estate, 18 new timber-framed homes built at Boatemah Walk used sustainably grown wood, organic paint, incorporated a highly energy efficient design, as well as a 14kwP solar panel roof providing electricity (saving around 14 tonnes of CO2 a year), while rainwater collected from the roof will be used for flushing toilets. Lambeth Housing now allocates capital funds each year to promote renewable energy and is investigating the potential for mini wind turbines on tower blocks.

All this is in addition to the work the Lib Dems have done to improve Lambeth's parks and open spaces. Lambeth Labour was happy to let these deteriorate or even sold off to developers. But Lib Dems have been making them better places for local residents to use with over £10 million of improvements. Furthermore the Lib Dems have planted 1,000 new trees in Lambeth's streets and parks, and introduced a proper tree maintenance programme for the first time in memory!

To make Lambeth even greener, in the next four years the Lib Dems will go further and:

*Increase recycling so that Lambeth becomes the top recycling borough in inner London, - and promote the principles of reducing rubbish and re-using what we have;

*Improve publicity about re-use and recycle facilities so that all sections of the community are aware of what is available;

Invest in improving our parks, and plant more trees;

*Further promote sustainable development by encouraging the construction of sustainable buildings;

*Aim to greatly increase use of the green garden waste recycling scheme, targeting areas with low take-up;

*Re-invigorate home-composting in Lambeth with free composting bins for gardeners;

*Where possible bring disused allotments back into use;

*Aim to capture far more bulky waste and metal for re-use and recycling;

*Collect and recycle more domestic waste from innovative schemes such as at all public transport interchanges in Lambeth;

*Ensure that all schools in the borough have as full green facilities as possible: composting, kitchen waste collection, bio-diesel, wormeries, recycling etc;

*Capture more recyclables via street sweeping.

"Despite Labour opposition to new schemes like the orange sacks, we've made Lambeth greener and more sustainable, and this is just the beginning," says Cllr Andrew Sawdon, who has been the Lib Dem environment spokesperson. "We're determined to make Lambeth even greener by recycling more of our rubbish, ensuring developments are more sustainable and by improving our parks and green open spaces".