Council cuts its carbon footprint

The authority has achieved the reduction by a variety of methods including increased recycling, energy-saving improvements in council buildings and greater use of environmentally-friendly fuels in vehicles.

Details were outlined in the council's annual environment statement at its executive board meeting.

The authority's achievements include:

A reduction of 42kg per home in the Rothwell area in the amount of rubbish going to landfill thanks to the food waste recycling trial;

Modernising the council fleet to include vehicles such as bio-methane-fuelled refuse trucks has reduced vehicle emissions by 5.65 per cent;

Leeds was ranked the most sustainable city in Yorkshire – and sixth in the UK – in the annual Sustainable Cities Index;

Electricity use in council buildings went down by more than 5 million kWh (kilowatt hours);

Less than 26 per cent of waste from council buildings is being sent to landfill thanks to improvements in recycling.

Councillors also heard about potential challenges to environmental improvements in Leeds, such as uncertainty over Government cash for projects including the proposed trolleybus scheme and flood alleviation projects, the rising cost of energy and the managing of future development and growth in a sustainable way.

Coun Tom Murray, executive member for environmental services, said last night: "The council is the largest employer in Leeds and any reduction in its energy consumption will have an impact on the city's overall environment.

"Leeds City Council has a significant part to play in the local environment, both in how it conducts its own operations and as an example to other organisations and people across the city," he added.