Improving the local environment

As an inner London borough we face many challenges. The negative impact of the heavy traffic levels on the strategic road network is felt by borough residents in terms of relatively high levels of air pollution levels experienced at roadside locations as a result of vehicle emissions. Each year, the Council receives more than 5,000 complaints about nuisances, of which over 4,000 are about noise. A particular local issue is that of aircraft noise, particularly night flights that disturb sleep patterns.

Nevertheless significant progress is being made to minimise waste. Wandsworth residents generated some 103,000 tonnes of household waste in 2006/07, equating to 366 kg per resident per year. The development and expansion of convenient recycling facilities since the introduction of a comingled (mixed) kerbside recycling collection in March 2003 has led to considerable progress. Overall, household recycling and composting rates have risen from 17.5% in 2003/04 to an anticipated 24% in 2007/08.

The Council has been proactive in tackling its own energy use in order to reduce damaging emissions. For example, there has been a 30.42% overall improvement in energy efficiency for private and council-owned dwellings between 1 April 1996 - 31 March 2007, including a 2.03% reduction for the year ending 31 March 2007.

The responsibility for tackling climate change does not rest with the council alone. Through the Greener Borough Initiative the Council has been providing encouragement and advice to residents, staff and business on their own lifestyles and environmental impacts.
The natural environment is one of the Borough's major assets and is crucial to residents' quality of life, as well as making an important contribution to international biodiversity commitments.

Regular consultation with residents indicates:-

• a high level of interest in global environmental issues, particularly climate change
• a continued concern about traffic (congestion, pollution, noise and speed),
• they value highly the quality of the existing townscape and open spaces.

We would like the residents and business communities in Wandsworth to act as global environmental citizens living sustainably in an attractive high quality local environment.

To find out more about improving the local environment in Wandsworth look at the Profile of Wandsworth. This will also give you a picture of the practical steps we want to take. Tell us what you think by completing the online questions.