Sustainability and conservation

We have achieved Level 1 GreenMark accreditation for our main office building at The Burys, Godalming.

GreenMark is a recognised environmental accreditation and assesses performance across areas such as energy, waste, vehicles and the procurement of goods and services.

What is sustainability?

Sustainability is about meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It means using resources wisely, reducing waste, and making choices that protect the environment, society, and economy for the long term. In practice, sustainability covers everything from reducing carbon emissions and conserving energy to supporting biodiversity and encouraging responsible consumption.

What is conservation?

Conservation focuses on protecting and managing natural resources and heritage so that they remain healthy and available for the future. This includes safeguarding wildlife, habitats, historic sites, and landscapes. Conservation ensures that the natural and cultural treasures of Waverley are preserved for everyone to enjoy, now and in the years to come.

What are we doing?

We are committed to making the borough a greener, healthier, and more sustainable place to live.

Here are some of the key actions and strategies in place:

1. Climate and Nature Strategy and Action Plan

Our Climate and Nature Strategy 2026 recognises the climate emergency and ecological crisis and reaffirms our continued commitment to be net zero by 2030. It outlines our key objectives, the actions we will take to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and the wider benefits for residents, businesses, communities, and the natural environment. It covers the period up to 2027, when Waverley Borough Council will become part of the new West Surrey Unitary Authority, and options for the new authority up to 2030 and beyond.

The accompanying Climate and Nature Action Plan provides a detailed roadmap of the steps we will take to achieve net zero by 2030, our priority projects and actions to boost sustainability across the borough.

Electric Vehicle Strategy 2021 to 2026: Promotes the use of electric vehicles by increasing the number of charging points and supporting greener travel options.

2. Conservation initiatives

Conservation areas: We have designated areas of special historic or architectural interest that are protected to maintain their unique character.

Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs): These orders protect important trees and woodlands, especially those within conservation areas, ensuring they are not removed or damaged without permission.

3. Supporting sustainable lifestyles

Active travel: The council encourages residents to walk or cycle more, such as the Guildford to Godalming Greenway route, a proposal to create a 7km route for walking, cycling, and mobility access between the two towns. This will reduce carbon emissions and improve health and wellbeing.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging points: Providing more places to charge electric vehicles making it easier for residents to switch to cleaner transport.

4. Community engagement

Commonplace sustainability hub: We used this engagement platform to share our climate action plans and run a survey to gather residents' views. The survey is now closed, but if you would like to get in touch please email: sustainability@waverley.gov.uk

Discover how we are achieving our sustainability objectives

Why it matters

Waverley Borough Council’s efforts in sustainability and conservation are crucial for several reasons:

Protecting the environment: Reducing emissions and conserving natural habitats helps combat climate change and preserves biodiversity.

Enhancing quality of life: Cleaner air, greener spaces, and healthier lifestyles benefit everyone in the community.

Preserving heritage: By protecting historic sites and landscapes, we ensure the area's unique character and history are maintained for future generations.

Setting an example: The council’s leadership encourages residents, businesses, and visitors to adopt more sustainable practices.

Recycling and composting

We actively promote recycling and composting as key ways to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and protect the environment.

Recycling

You can recycle a wide range of materials including paper, cardboard, glass, tins, and certain plastics using the blue recycling bins provided at home. The council offers a recycling search tool to help residents understand exactly what can and cannot be recycled locally, ensuring materials are correctly sorted to maximise recycling efficiency. Additionally, there are free collection services for small electrical items and textiles to keep these out of landfill.

Food waste recycling

We collect food waste from home once a week. This includes items such as fruit and vegetable peelings, meat, fish, bones, dairy products, tea bags, and coffee grounds. The collected food waste is taken to anaerobic digestion plants where it is converted into fertiliser and biogas, which is used to generate electricity.

Composting

Home composting is encouraged as the most environmentally friendly way to manage biodegradable waste. Composting garden waste and suitable food scraps reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill and enriches soil naturally. You can purchase discounted compost bins and food waste digesters from approved suppliers. We offer advice and guidance on composting techniques and troubleshooting to help residents compost effectively at home.

Garden waste collection

For garden waste that is not composted at home, we provide a garden waste collection service. You can subscribe or renew your service to have garden waste collected regularly, helping to keep green waste out of general rubbish bins and supporting sustainable waste management.

Get involved

Everyone can play a part in building a sustainable future. Whether it’s walking or cycling more, protecting trees, or sharing your views on local policies, your actions make a difference.

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