BMC Environment Policy Report November 2008.

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1 BMC Environment Policy Report November Extract from policy statement: In its day to day operations and processes, the BMC has a significant impact on the environment, through the resources it uses such as paper, power, fuel and also through the waste products it produces, such as solid wastes and emissions from heating and transport. We will seek to quantify these effects and implement measures to ensure day to day office practices have as small an impact on the environment as is possible. This will be achieved through improvements in; purchasing practices, transport use, energy efficiency, waste practices and reduced use of chemicals. The BMC currently, Briefs all existing staff on BMC Environment Policy and BMC Office Environmental Policy. Environmental policy is included in induction process. Review effectiveness of in office recycling system and report to ACEG Introduce quarterly energy and travel mileage, report to ACEG To date The BMC have achieved the Gold Award for the Environmental Business Pledge, run by Manchester City Council. The Environmental Business Pledge is an initiative developed solely for Manchester Businesses. The Pledge was introduced through Manchester City Council's 2004 campaign, Challenge Manchester: 100 Days to a Clean City, where over 250 businesses pledged to improve their local environment. To continue this work Manchester City Council, Groundwork, Mersey Basin Campaign, ENCAMS and the Environment Agency have come together to expand the Pledge and offer services to support businesses in its quest to improve environmental performance, achieve major cost savings and increase competitiveness. The scheme is designed to reward and recognise those companies doing their bit to improve the city's environment. Manchester City Council are asking the city's businesses to make a simple pledge to improve their local environment and work towards improving their environmental performance. In order to have achieved the Gold Award, the BMC have matched the following criteria; 1. Continual Recycling Continue recycling for over 12 months and maintain records BRITISH MOUNTAINEERING COUNCIL WASTE DISPOSAL RECORD See Table 1 2. Green Purchasing Change Purchasing practices to buy environmentally friendly options such as recycled products or green electricity. The following has been implemented: All stationery paper products purchased from our favoured supplier are made from recycled paper (1).

2 All printed leaflets are now on recycled paper (2&3). All paper products supplied by 3rd party cleaning company are recycled (toilet roles and paper hand towels). Power supplies are with Eon (4). BMC is purchasing laptops for appropriate staff, which reduces power usage by around 90% for that user. BMC desktop machines are all EPA Energy Start, Blue angel rated and all purchase decisions include an assessment of energy/resource use. Water meter is installed. All toilet flush systems have been replaced to include economy flush systems. To conserve water, all taps have been replaced by mixer taps to conserve water. Water butt connected directly into the gutter system has been purchased. 3. Environmental Management Implement an Environmental Management System Informally, the BMC has developed an environmental management system. The BMC currently, Briefs all existing staff on BMC Environment Policy and BMC Office Environmental Policy. Environmental policy is included in induction process. Review effectiveness of in office recycling system and report to ACEG (1st report was produced in April 2008) Introduce quarterly energy and travel mileage, report to ACEG The BMC are now considering a formal, accredited scheme, BS Community Activities Regularly support neighbourhood community clean up activities and efforts to enhance the local area wherever possible. Throughout England and Wales the BMC is committed to organising and helping with as many schemes as possible in order to support clean up events, litter picks and environmental campaigns. Its staff and 65,000 members are regularly encouraged to take part in regular environmental events and these are advertised via our monthly newsletter and in Summit magazine as well as via our 9 Area Committee s who meet 5 times per year. The BMC support many local environmental improvement projects through its charity ACT (Access, Conservation Trust) by providing financial assistance to projects such as crag clean ups, littler picks, ecological surveys, path improvement and revegetation work and a number of green publications (green climbing guides etc). 5. Waste Minimisation Develop an action plan to minimise potential waste entering the premises; for example look at areas where you can cut down on packaging, raw materials or water use. The BMC has an office environmental policy which states: Re-using and maximising resources Paper printed on one side is re-used in the fax machine and as scrap pads.

3 When possible double-sided print is a standard option for printing and photocopies. Recycling All waste, including paper, is collected by a specialist waste company, sorted and recycled as appropriate. Please note that all types of waste paper / goes into any of the cardboard waste bins around the office. Cardboard boxes and Card goes into the back storeroom. Plastic, tin and glass go into the bins marked appropriately which are located under the counter in the kitchen. All other types of rubbish and general kitchen waste go into the main waste bin in the kitchen. Plastic supermarket bags go into the container in the kitchen also located underneath the counter. Printer and other cartridges are collected and recycled as appropriate via Paul or Lynda. Member s old mobile phones are recycled via Summit magazine and EAH Recycling. Member s old printer cartridges are recycled via Summit magazine and EAH Recycling. Kitchen Etiquette BMC staff are required to bring in their own crockery for their own use at the BMC. Staff are also responsible for washing their own pots after use. Items of compost go into the kitchen compost bin or outside in the garden compost bin. Transport Lift sharing and use of public transport are encouraged for business travel. Meetings are arranged to minimise travelling distances. Secure bike storage is provided at the office to encourage cycling as an alternative to car travel. Energy Energy use is minimised by switching off unused appliances and light fittings. A check of appliances is included in the office shut down procedure. Energy suppliers are Powergen who provide practical support to help identify and implement energy efficiency measures under their e.on energy efficiency programme. Water All toilets are fitted with economy flushes All taps throughout the building a mixer taps for efficiency Water Butt is in use that is linked directly into the gutter system. Flexible Working A flexible working system has been introduced to enable staff to travel to work outside the rush hour to minimise the amount of fuel used for those who travel by car.

4 6. Green Travel Plan Carry out activities to reduce the environmental impact of work related transport. The British Mountaineering Council is based In West Didsbury, Manchester. It is located in a converted Victorian church building and has 25 employees, some part time and some full time. There is a bus route that passes the front of the building. There is no train or tram access and no cycle lanes close by. Staff travel to and from work using the following methods; car share, bus, train, walking, cycling. The work of a proportion of the staff is carried out out in the field which means they are not required to travel to the office. Staff can also have the flexibility of working from home when appropriate, so there is less need to travel to the office. There are no cycle lanes on the roads surrounding the BMC s office. Flexible working has also been introduced so that staff can travel off-peak. Raising Awareness Information is included in our induction pack that gives information about the storage facilities that have been installed at the BMC for those members of staff that cycle to work. Travel information is publicised on the BMC intranet. 80% of staff took part in National Cycle Day in 2007 which involved cycling in from their homes to work and back. People cycled from as far away as Warrington. Walking & Cycling Safe storage facilities in a secure garden area are provided for staff who cycle to the office. Flexible working has been introduced so that cyclists are able to miss the rush hour traffic. Internet access is allowed to research cycle routes for those who wish to use their bikes. Car Sharing & Public Transport Staff are encouraged and do car share where possible, especially when driving to offsite meetings and events. Cycling The BMC has adopted a policy of allowing its staff to hire a larger vehicle when there are several people travelling to an event, instead of taking more than 1 car.

5 7. Investment Make an investment into equipment that reduces your business environmental impact. The BMC has taken steps to make investment that will reduce its impact on the environment. The following action has been taken: Investment in water reduction Premises fitted with water meter and water butt installed in order to capture and re-use rain water. Investment in energy saving equipment Where appropriate staff are moving over to using laptops which reduces power usage by around 90% for that user. Investment in desktop machines to ensure that they are all EPA Energy Star, Blue Angel rated and all purchasing decisions include an assessment of energy/resource use. Retired, obsolete and faulty stock is re-used for parts and then sent to recycling. This results in 95% of old stock being recycled. The BMC has a policy of turning off as much electrical equipment as possible overnight and at ends. The BMC has invested in its outside area by converting part of its garden area into a vegetable garden for staff to become involved in, this also includes all staff composting all appropriate items. BMC has signed up to the North West Climate Change Charter.

6 Date Waste Stream Quantity Disposal Method Office waste paper, used envelopes etc. 15 bags per Put into red bins at the rear of the building and collected fortnightly by STE Waste Packaging, boxes etc. Glass product, Bottles etc. Plastic Products, Milk cartons, food packaging etc. 4 bin bags per 2 bin bags per 3 bin bags per Sorted and collected fortnightly by STE Waste Disposed of in indoor Glass products recycling bin and then collected fortnightly by STE waste Disposed of in indoor Plastic Products recycling bin and then collected fortnightly by STE waste Weekly Plastic carrier bags Collected in kitchen and re-used or taken back to supermarket Daily Ongoing (3&4) Kitchen waste. General food waste and all other household type waste Compost. Used tea bags, thin card, egg shells, grass cuttings etc. Ink Cartridges. Empty printer cartridges from BMC members 6 bin bags per Collected in kitchen in Kitchen waste recycling bin and then collected fortnightly by STE waste Placed in dedicated kitchen compost binn or directly into garden compost bin and used for garden compost per annum Sent to EAH recycling Ongoing Empty photocopier cartridges. 12 per annum Sent back to Alexacan for recycling Ongoing (3 &4) Redundant mobile phones from employees and members Table 1; BMC Waste Disposal Record 100 per annum Sent to EAH recycling Date of Inventory, August 2008