We are committed to protecting the environment now and into the future.

As part of our commitment to achieve zero net corporate emissions by 2025 and zero net community emissions by 2030, we have been busy working on a range of initiatives to reduce our carbon emissions and minimise the impacts of climate change. This has included engaging with the community in late 2020 on how we can help them reduce their carbon emissions; adding two new electric vehicles — Bev and Zoe — to our fleet in early 2021; endorsing an Environmental Building and Infrastructure Policy in late February 2021; using reclaimed asphalt pavement in our annual road resurfacing works; and preparing and consulting on a draft Our Climate Emergency Response Strategy 2021–2025 in April 2021.

In late 2020, we engaged with community members on how we can assist them to reduce their carbon emissions. This feedback helped us to draft the Our Climate Emergency Response Strategy. We were thrilled to receive 785 feedback submissions on the draft Strategy that informed the final Strategy, which was endorsed by Council on Tuesday 29 June 2021. The Strategy is supported by the Our Climate Emergency Response Strategy Action Plan and outlines our commitment to strong and fast action on climate change.

In January 2021, we trialled green asphalt on three streets in Bentleigh East — Brosnan Road, Dega Avenue and Brosa Avenue. Green asphalt contains a range of recycled materials, including plastic, recycled glass and reclaimed asphalt pavement. Around 15,000 two-litre plastic bottles and 110,000 glass bottles were recycled into the road. The trial not only decreased landfill by 200 tonnes — the equivalent of 3,000 wheelie bins of waste glass and plastic — but also reduced carbon emissions by 1,260 kilograms.

We will continue our work to make Glen Eira a more sustainable place to live and we look forward to delivering the Our Climate Emergency Response Strategy across the next four years with the Glen Eira community.

For more information visit the Sustainable living page on our website.