Lambeth takes strides in sustainability

7.49.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th Jul 2005

Lambeth Council's profile in terms of its commitment to sustainable development continues to grow and is considered a leader in aspects including procurement and sustainable construction. Highlights include:

• Taking 2nd place out of all the London boroughs on the Mayor of London 'Green Procurement Code - Buy Recycled' reports. We have recently submitted figures for 04/05 that show our spend on recycled products has doubled.

• Becoming London's second Fairtrade borough. There are now five Fairtrade Boroughs, and five more expected to be confirmed over the next few months.

• Introducing a comprehensive internal recycling scheme as part of the new Council Office Cleaning Contract. In 2004/05 over 40 tonnes of recycling was collected internally. The Council has also sent 45 tonnes of redundant IT equipment to be refurbished or recycled through Realise IT.

• Several 'green' Lambeth Housing projects - on Angell Town there is a model of sustainability with rainwater harvesting, large solar roof and use of FSC sustainable timber; an integrated solar roof project when it refurbished Langholm Close (the first local authority to do so)

• 9 sedum 'green' roofs - the largest green roof scheme in the country on the Ethelred estate.

Lib Dems in Vauxhall fully support all these green initiatives and look forward to much more in the future.