ZERO CARBON COMMUNITIES

Cutting our Carbon Footprint

Welcome

The Zero Carbon Community campaign was first launched in 2010 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, under the initiative of Trevor Lynn, a environmental social entrepreneur, and the Think3e Group.

The initiative, which aims to promote recycling in towns, has been highly successful: within a couple of months, awareness of the Zero Carbon Community jumped to typically over 70% in areas which engaged in the ZCC scheme and recycling of business waste increased significantly.

Moreover, over the course of the campaign, Think3e has developed links with local businesses and communities through the Business Improvement District pilot cross the UK, which lead to a free waste collection and recycling service. [1]

As the activities at Think3e gain wider attention, the Green footprint awards launched a set of Zero Carbon Community Goals and an were Action Guide to encourage others to follow in the town's success. During the 2010-2016 period, we anticipate over 209 British towns will be awarded the Zero carbon community status by the Green footprint awards.

In an attempt to replicate the success of the Zero carbon community s program, a Europe-wide program will be launched called "Zero carbon communities in Europe", part-funded being sought from the European Commission, was launched jointly by several Business Improvement District initiatives.

In November 2010, the first ever Zero Carbon Community conference was hosted at Wellingborough’s

Think3e Group HQ.

 

The goals of the conference were to:

 

·                Identify and develop procedures to strengthen the recycling links within and between local communities and private and public organisations;

·                      Develop strategies to enable the UK zero carbon communities model to meet the requirements of each individual district / county / region / country.

Following the success of the first event, a second zero carbon communities conference will subsequently be held in Brussels in a years time..

 

There are currently zero carbon communities  anticipated in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Criteria

Sign announcing Wellingborough's (UK) Zero Carbon communities status

Formal guidelines have been produced jointly by several ZCC members recycling initiatives. In order to be awarded zero carbon communities status, an area must meet five criteria:

 

Local council  or town centre partnership passes a resolution supporting zero carbon communities, and agrees to recycle waste in its offices and canteens. Not just dispose of waste for landfill.

A range of (at least two) recycled products is consistently recycled (as opposed to being managed into landfill) in the area’s shops and local business establishments..

o         Target for number of retail outlets: population of < 10000 - 1 retail outlet per 2500; population < 200000 - 1 retail outlet per 5000; population of < 500000 - 1 retail outlet per 10000.

o         Target for number of business outlets: population of < 10000 - 1 business outlet per 5000; population < 200000 - 1 business outlet per 10000; population of < 500000 - 1 catering outlet per 20000

Recycling waste streams will be collected weekly from  a number of local work places ( estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations ( churches, schools etc)

Attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign.

A local zero waste community steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its zero carbon communities status.

Other initiatives

The draft criteria for a "Zero Carbon Nation" are:

·          75% of the population should recycle two types of waste products every year.

·          40% of people regularly recycle waste and divert from landfill.

·          All local authorities have active zero carbon communities groups working towards zero carbon communities.

55% local authority areas with zero carbon communities status with 10% annual increase in following years

Zero Carbon Communities

Think3e House

Unit 15-21

Finedon Road Industrial Estate

Wellingborough

Northamptonshire

NN8 4EY

 

 

 

 

To contact us:

info@think3e.net

To contact us call: 0300 111 222 3