Environmental Impact | | Environmental Impact |
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The MOre Green Project is working with Arena Network towards Green Dragon Level 1 and 2, which is an Environmental Management Standard (EMS). The project began monitoring of paper used in 2005. All used paper is then cut up and reused as scrap. Notes are written in pencil, which can then be erased and the paper used again. We are conscious of our effect on pollution in the environment through use of project vehicles. The project vehicles are run on diesel. Vehicle usage and diesel consumption is monitored. Purchasing The MOre Green Project has an unwritten policy, which we may well now put into print, of not buying new unless there is some absolute reason why we should. All paper is purchased through the Environment Centre, which buys recycled and in bulk. All envelopes are re-used, so we do not need to purchase these at all, should we ever need to we would buy recycled, as with the paper. All plastics, folders, ring binders, paper clips, staplers' etc are all reused, from organisations that had no further use of them. We do not need to purchase any office equipment as new. All our office items are from organisations that have donated to us as fit for re-use. This includes our office telephone, mobile telephone, lap-top computer, printer, digital camera, standard camera, desk lamp, waste paper bin and so on. The projects desk, chairs, filing trays, books and bookcase in the office are all reused items, once belonging to someone else. Energy The MOre Green Project did try to look at a way to measure its energy consumption, but as this is measured by the Environment Centre as a whole building, we found this a little difficult. The Centre's electricity is provided from a renewable source (Green Energy). We watch our energy consumption by being conscious of what we use and how we use it. We do operate a 'switch off when not in use' policy for any energy-using devices. Waste Water is also a resource that we take care not to waste. Again monitoring of this is carried out by the Environment Centre. The water is run through a meter and recorded monthly. All toilets have water saving devices, urinals flush automatically via sensors/timer to reduce water usage. Waste water from the toilets and basins only go to the sewer, complying with the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water Resources Act 1991. Any paper, cans and glass are put into the Centres recycling bins and is then collected by the City & County of Swansea for recycling. Cardboard and plastic has to be taken to the recycling sites. Organic waste is put into a wormery in the Centre's garden. Any item that the MOre Green Project has finished using will be offered to someone else for reuse, failing this it will be dismantled for reuse, or the final result would be separation for recycling. We are aware that once something is made it cannot be unmade, but it can be changed and reused in a different form, for a different use. In the projects office used CDs make good place mats for coffee cups. They can also be used creatively as decoration, e.g. hanging mobiles. Transport Staff and volunteers are encouraged to use sustainable means of transport to get to and from the project activities. As an incentive, public transport costs would be covered getting to and from work with the project. Also as an incentive to cycle, the project provides, free of charge, a cycle obtained through a reuse cycle scheme. The project pays 20 pence per mile whilst on project business. One of the projects key volunteers, Muhammad Khan came to us on a 13-week placement from the Job Centre, during that time he cycled 136 miles to and from the project! The Project also awarded Muhammad a certificate to say "well done". Legislation The following is a list of legislative Acts that have been taken into account when considering our environmental review annually: |