Press Release

The Vale Housing Association Gets Even Greener

Having already achieved the honour of being the first Housing Association to achieve the Environmental Standard ISO14001 in 1999 and retaining this award for a further three years in 2002, The Vale Housing Association is taking more action to help reduce its impact on the environment.

Firstly, the Association is introducing 6 LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) vans into its fleet. The vans have the capability of running on both petrol and LPG which is gaining increasing support as an environmentally friendly automotive fuel by reducing CO2 emissions. This, in turn, will help to reduce the increase of global warming and improve air quality. LPG is also a quieter fuel with vehicles being up to 50% quieter both internally and externally. As the fuel is about half as expensive as diesel, it will allow the Association to spend more money in improving services in other areas. If this pilot of 6 vans is successful, the Association hopes to introduce more dual fuel vans in the future.

Another significant step forward has taken place at Field House in Botley, one of our sheltered accommodation properties, where Graham Wells, one of the Scheme Managers, has introduced a recycling centre for the tenants. Graham has converted an old bin store into a recycling area using Green Boxes from the District Council. He has allocated one box for each type of waste that can be recycled. As the waste is already sorted, collection is easier.

One of the tenants, Mrs Hockley said, I think it’s a good idea. In a place as big as this so much goes to waste otherwise. If this scheme proves to be a success, the Association hopes to roll it out to some of the other sheltered housing properties. As Graham says, One elderly person living on their own might only use a couple of recyclable items a week which would not really warrant them getting a green box but when you multiply this by the 65 homes in the scheme, that is a lot of waste that can be recycled.

 Tenants make a start on recycling their rubbish. (L-R Mr Pritchett, Graham Wells and Mrs Hockley)

Notes to Editors

1. The photograph of some tenants and Graham using the new recycling bin is available electronically at 300dpi.

For further information contact:

Communication and Research Assistant
01235 536001

Communications and Research Manager
01235 536001