Department of Health
Policy Statement on Green Housekeeping
INTRODUCTION
This is the Department of Health's statement
of policy on green housekeeping. It sets out our aims and the
measures we are already taking. The next and imminent step will
be to produce a detailed, comprehensive action plan.
STATEMENT OF
POLICY
The Department [including its Executive Agencies]
is fully committed to following the best environmental practices
in the day to day conduct of its business and in the management
of its estate. We shall pursue this policy in the most cost effective
fashion and will continue to promote, among the staff, an understanding
of environmental issues. Management will be urged to encourage
staff to follow good practice.
AIMS OF
POLICY
In the area of green housekeeping the Department's
aims are as follows:
1. Energy To achieve the most economic
and careful use of lighting and heating and other sources of energy.
2. Water To introduce measures to
conserve water.
3. Ozone depleting substances To require
the use of environmentally preferred products across our estate.
4. Emissions to Air To minimise the
emission of polluting substances to air.
5. Recycling To make maximum practical
use of recycling.
6. Contracting To ensure both the
Department and its contractors take account of environmental considerations
(including the implementation of a recycling policy).
7. Paper To encourage the use of environmentally
friendly paper products.
WHAT WE
ARE DOING
TO ACHIEVE
THESE POLICY
AIMS
Our first action plan will be produced shortly
following an environmental review of our operations by consultants
from the Environmental Management Programme of Brunel University.
It will outline the initiatives, in addition to those already
underway, that will enable us to carry forward our commitment
and to achieve our objectives in the year ahead, and help us to
become increasingly aware of the environmental consequences of
the decisions we make.
Action on specific areas includes:
Energy The action plan will include measures
that will assist us to maximise energy efficiency. In pursuing
our goal we shall ensure that staff are provided with high standards
of heating, lighting and air conditioning. Our recent move to
a newly built energy-efficient building (housing 1000 staff) is
the first but significant step in this direction.
Water We shall be promoting water conservation
within the Department and installing water meters to monitor usage
to enable us to consider targets for reduced consumption.
Ozone depleting substances We are presently
identifying the equipment containing ozone depleting substances
and will replace it with environmentally friendly alternatives.
Emissions to air For some time it has
been the policy of our Transport Section to purchase only diesel
vehicles and to fit remaining petrol vehicles with catalytic converters.
For the future we shall introduce a programme of regular checks
and maintenance to ensure our vehicles meet minimum emission standards.
Recycling We have installed bins in our
buildings to collect good quality waste paper for recycling. We
are considering other options for extending our present programme
to include a range of waste materials. For example, we have provided
bins for collecting aluminium cans in our new building, Skipton
House, and will introduce these in other buildings.
Contracting procedures Our Purchasing
Section continues to look for environmental awareness as part
of the selection criteria for potential contractors.
Paper We are considering extending our
use of recycled paper, and other environmentally friendly products,
wherever practical and reasonable. We shall also continue to encourage
the economic use of paper.
THE FUTURE
The Department's environment policy will be
reviewed at least every two years to ensure that it continues
to take full account of best practice and all Government guidelines
on environmental matters. A revised policy statement will be issued
when necessary.
Department of Health
April 1993
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