What we use

Managing our resources cuts across many of the themes in the Climate Change Action Plan and the work that we do in Birmingham City Council.

Managing resources affects climate change through emissions from the processing, treatment and disposal of waste. Managing resources well through reuse and recycling can significantly reduce carbon pollution.

The council and organisations across the city also have a role using its buying power to procure sustainably. Sustainable procurement enables organisations to meet the needs of an organisation whilst taking into account whole life costs, and the wider economic, social and environmental impacts of buying. We have worked with BeBirmingham and partners to develop a sustainable procurement compact a set of guidelines to ensure that the city’s spending power also helps it to achieve its environmental, economic and community aspirations.

Birmingham generates about 4 million tonnes of waste every year and although we don’t send huge quantities to landfill, we need to allow greater reuse and recycling of materials. Birmingham has an extensive doorstep recycling service reducing carbon pollution and protecting the environment. With goods recycling locally including all paper recycled in Nechells, recycling your waste can also protect local jobs and services.