Environment agency cuts CO2 output

A series of eco-friendly measures have helped the Environment Agency reduce its carbon emissions by nearly a fifth over the past five years.

Figures from the government body show its CO2 emissions have gone down by 17% between 2006 and 2011.

Savings were made in other key areas too, with energy use falling by 15% and water consumption by 18%.

The agency said in its environment management update that thanks to the green measures it was now saving more than £6 million annually in costs.

Office waste has come down by 18% since 2006/07 and the agency is sending 66% less rubbish into landfill.

In terms of transport, the agency has cut down the total miles travelled by 19 million per year, amounting to 33% over the five-year period.

It is the first such update of its kind from the organisation and outlines even bigger targets for 2015 across five major areas of energy and waste management.

The agency is encouraging other big firms and organisations to go green and make their environmental progress public.

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