Mid Suffolk District Council recognises that its operations have an impact on the environment. In working towards a more sustainable future, the council is committed to minimising our adverse environmental impacts by reducing pollution and tackling climate change. The council aims to improve its practices to generate positive environmental impacts in the district and the wider community. Mid Suffolk District Council wish to display positive environmental behaviour, in order to improve the quality of life for the people of Mid Suffolk.

This policy statement aims to fulfil the council’s obligations under the:

• Strategic Plan priority for responsible environmental management;
• government’s Environmental Sustainability National Indicators;
• environmental aspects of the Local Area Agreement (LAA);
• environmental management system that meets the requirements of ISO14001.

Policy Statement

The Mid Suffolk District Council environmental policy is to:

1. Continually strive to improve our environmental performance through setting stretching environmental objectives and targets.

2. Ensure compliance with relevant environmental legislation and regulations.

3. Implement procedures to prevent pollution by the Council’s activities, particularly through accidental emissions or effluent discharges.

4. Monitor and reduce the impact of our activities on the local and general environment through the use of appropriate performance indicators.

5. Use our procurement processes to ensure that we obtain products and services from sustainable and environmentally responsible sources including local suppliers where possible.

6. Reduce the Council’s carbon emissions and the consumption of water and other resources.

7. Ensure that waste generated by the Council is reduced, reused or recycled where possible and the remainder disposed of responsibly.

8. Operate an environmentally responsible vehicle fleet to promote the use of more environmentally friendly modes of transport.

9. Encourage residents and other organisations to reduce their consumption of energy through improved energy efficiency.

10. Encourage residents and other organisations to reduce, reuse and recycle waste and provide a service to dispose of the remainder responsibly.

11. Conserve and enhance the character and quality of the district’s ecological character and the character and biodiversity of its landscapes, habitats and species.

12. Promote environmental improvements in new developments through the strategic planning process and the Local Development Framework.