Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Rising to the challenge of climate change

• Minimise our impact onthe causes of climate change
• Respond to the effects of climate change, particularly flooding
• Minimise the waste we produce and maximise recycling

Climate change is one of the most important challenges facing society. The effects of climate change are already being felt and we have put tackling global warming at the heart of our agenda over the next four years.

The Council agreed a Climate Change Strategy in October 2008. This provides the framework for the Council to set about reducing the carbon footprint of its own activities and of the local community. We are working in partnership with the Carbon Trust, South Oxfordshire District Council and Aylesbury Vale Borough Council and have developed an ambitious Carbon Management Plan. The Council established its carbon footprint in 2007 and we will deliver a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 by 2012. In delivering the Carbon Management Plan, the Council will also make financial savings on its energy costs. 

We also recognise that we need to respond to the effects of climate change. The devastating floods of July 2007 and 2008 are obvious examples. The Council is working with local communities to ensure that they are well prepared for any future floods by providing technical advice and guidance. Already, many local community flood groups have been formed and some have been helped with grant funding.

The Council has signed a new joint waste management contract with South Oxfordshire District Council and Verdant Group Plc which will be delivered from October 2010. Under the new contract the recycling rate will improve substantially. In 2008/9 a recycling rate of 37 per cent was achieved and by 2011/12 this will rise to 46 per cent. There will be many other benefits coming from the new contract including the weekly collection of food waste and a fortnightly collection of a wider range of recyclable materials. A modern fuel efficient fleet of vehicles will be used. The engines will be converted by a local company, Regenatec of Milton Park, to run on pure plant oil which is a sustainable biofuel. This will lead to a reduction in CO2 of over 70 per cent. Collection rounds will be devised to minimise the amount of fuel used and will cross the boundary between the two councils where appropriate. All of these developments will significantly reduce the amount of CO2 produced by the Council.