SOUTH BEDFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

Published by webmaster for South Bedfordshire District Council in Communities

South Bedfordshire District Council has recently been awarded the internationally recognised environmental standard EMAS (Eco-management and Audit Scheme).

The EMAS certification is a voluntary scheme designed to improve companies’ environmental performance and involves measures such as minimising the amount of waste that is produced, reducing energy consumption and making more efficient use of resources.

Councillor Brian Spurr, portfolio holder with responsibility for the Environment said: “the council has always been aware of its responsibility to be more environmentally aware and lead by example.

All services of the council have been involved in achieving the highly sought after certification. It involved numerous audits, inspections and on site surveys over a number of months. We have shown by achieving EMAS that we are determined to minimise the impact we have on the environment of South Bedfordshire.”

The council will regularly produce a public environmental statement that reports on how it is maintaining its environmental performance. This statement and our management systems will be annually checked by an independent verifier. This constant maintenance of standards is why EMAS and those organisations which take part in it have a high standing in the eyes of the Government and environmental regulators. Copies of the environmental statement, and the targets the council has set for 2007 and beyond can be found on the council’s website www.southbeds.gov.uk.

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Press release issued: February 21 2007