Take a pledge and make a difference

12.04.31pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 29th Jul 2008

• LOCAL residents are being urged to make a pledge to make their lifestyle more environmentally-friendly as part of a new Richmond Council initiative.

The Council has developed a series of pledges across a number of areas including reducing your carbon footprint, greener travel, reducing waste and reusing and recycling more, as well as using less water. Residents are urged to select one or more pledges that interest them. Some pledges are quick and easy, while others need a little more effort. There are many options such as switching to energy-saving light bulbs, insulating your home, joining a car club, cycling, composting organic waste, using reusable nappies or buying a water butt. Once signed-up, residents will be offered one of a range of incentives to help them take action. These include free energy saving light bulbs, £50 cash-back if reusable nappies are purchased and used, and discounted insulation, compost bins and water butts.

Cllr Martin Elengorn, Cabinet Member for Environment on Richmond Council, said: "Sustainability is at the heart of everything this Council does and we want to encourage everyone to get involved in becoming more environmentally-friendly. I strongly urge residents to make a pledge and do their bit to make our borough a greener place to live and work."