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Climate

Climate emergency declarations have been made by Essex County Council and Braintree District Council with a pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030.  Witham Town Council support these declarations and are committed to reducing its environmental impact and considering climate change while delivering its services, carrying out its duties and when considering all strategic decisions.

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Every little helps but doing nothing is not an option.

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Witham Town Council’s Climate Change Working Group meet quarterly to discuss how Witham can do their bit to stop climate change and reduce carbon emissions.  The group considers initiatives that help Witham reduce, reuse, refill, recycle, lower carbon emissions and increase the biodiversity for the benefit of wildlife and people. We want to create a sustainable community for today’s residents and future generations.

Saving Energy

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  • All 75 Witham Town Council lamp columns were replaced with LED bulbs during 2019/2020 which have a longer life span and so lower carbon emissions as well as save money.

  • Going forward the council are replacing our redundant petrol / diesel powered open spaces equipment with electric versions.

  • When the Open Spaces fleet reach their end of life, we will look at replacing them with electric versions to reduce pollution and our carbon footprint.

Encouraging Bio-Diversity

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  • The beautiful River Walk, through the heart of Witham, offers a mosaic of habitat types and is closely managed by our Open Space Team to encourage wildlife as well as providing a recreational green space for all to enjoy.

  • James Cooke Wood, previously farmland, was purchased by the town council in 1993, and is now a community woodland planted with British trees, local to the area, to provide maximum benefit for wildlife and a quiet relaxing space for residents.

  • Whetmead Nature Reserve, a former landfill site, is now an area of woodland, meadow and open space where the river Brain and Blackwater merge. A wonderful wildlife haven and a perfect place for a walk to enjoy the flora and fauna

  • We are currently trialling wildflower planting in a corner of the Closed Churchyard to attract vitally important bees and butterflies as well as providing a welcome palate of colour for us all. If successful, we will look for other appropriate sites for wildflower planting.

  • We are proud to support Witham Tree Group, whose aim is to protect and increase the tree cover in the town (Witham Tree Group | For a greener future)

  • Every year, Witham Information Centre co-ordinates a seed exchange fortnight. Local residents can donate or swap their left-over seeds to reduce waste and allowing new and seasoned gardeners the opportunity to grow their own flowers and vegetables

Saying No to Single Use Plastic

 

  • Every 500ml plastic bottle uses almost 83g of CO2 emissions. In the hot summer months, the Information Centre provide a water refill station for residents to top up their drinking bottles.

Water refill station in Witham Information Centre
New picnic benches made from recycled materials

Recycling

 

  • The information Centre offers a drop off point for you to recycle your ink jet cartridges and batteries. You can also pick up a roll of clear recycling sacks for your fortnightly curb-side recycled waste collection, if you have run out.

  • Community Coat Rack. If you need a coat and can’t afford it or if you have unwanted coats you would like to donate, there is a coat rail outside the Town Hall Monday to Friday.

  • The Witham Town Christmas tree, as well as the trees our Operations Team collected from St. George’s and Park View care homes, were donated to a local farm for their goats to munch.

  • The hay bales from the Witham Dog Show were donated to a local stable for their horses to enjoy.

  • In 2023 we purchased two new recycled plastic heavy duty picnic tables for Guithavon Valley Green, saving 5,508 2 pint milk cartons from landfill and our oceans

Keeping It Local

 

  • The information Centre showcases local gifts and produce by Witham’s independent businesses and has initiated Witham Gift Vouchers to encourage residents to shop within the town and reduce their shopping mileage and carbon emissions.

  • The Town Council make a point of researching and buying products and services, as required, from local suppliers as often as possible.

Witham Cut Throat lane Allotment site

Going Organic

 

  • Witham Town Council took over the Cut Throat Lane Allotments in 2021 and have updated and extended the communal composting area. Additional allotment plots are being introduced at Rivenhall Park in 2023 and more are planned for 2025 to meet the increasing demand. Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a tastier alternative to shop bought produce and helps limit the disposal of food packaging. Click Here to apply for an allotment.

  • Witham Town Council do not use pesticides in any of their open spaces and discourage the use in their allotments.

The Council will ensure compliance with all environmental regulations, laws and codes of practice including The Water Act 2003, The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, Duty of Care (Waste), Water Framework Directive.

How You Can Recycle

 

Braintree District Council provide a Thursday fortnightly recycling kerb-side collection and a weekly food-waste collection. To find out what you can put in your clear recycling bags click here Using clear sacks – Clear sacks – Braintree District Council

 

There are also a variety of recycling banks around Witham, find your nearest at https://www.recyclenow.com/

 

Other ways to recycle and reduce waste

  • Small electrical and electronic items (that can fit in a carrier bag) such as electric toothbrushes / toasters / hairdryers etc can be recycled at Witham Library

  • Unused /half used medicines can be disposed of at the local pharmacy

  • Give and Take community resources table - donate, swap or take non-perishable food items and toiletries to Witham Library

  • Home use printer ink cartridges can be recycled at Witham Library as well as the Town Hall

  • Used batteries can be recycled at major supermarkets, Witham Library as well as the Town Hall

  • Carrier Bags can be recycled at major supermarkets including Tesco / Morrisons 

  • Make-up can be recycled at Superdrug, Boots and Tesco

  • Books can be donated to charity shops, given to the Community books shelves at Witham Tesco or disposed of in a bespoke recycling bank at Witham Recycling Centre

  • Witham Community Fridge – located in The Witham Hub in the Grove Centre, you can donate any unwanted in-date food items or home-grown fruit and vegetables, helping to reduce food waste while helping others.  Witham Community Fridge – Witham Hub

  • Pre-loved items that still have life left in them? You could donate to your local charity shop or consider giving them away from the comfort of your home using an on-line platform such as Freegle Freegle in Essex (loveessex.org) , Freecycle www.freecycle.org.uk, Gumtree or  Facebook marketplace.

 

For all those items, you need to dispose of safely and sustainably, please use Witham Recycling Centre - Witham Recycling Centre (loveessex.org)

 

Useful Links

 

Find out how to get rid of your rubbish, reduce your waste and recycle more in Essex - Love Essex

Find out what Essex County Council are doing about Climate Change - Energy, climate and environment - Essex County Council

Look at what the Braintree District is doing to tackle Climate Change Climate change – Braintree District Council

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