Foreign Office gains international standard for cutting waste

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has become the first public sector organisation to be awarded the international standard for waste reduction. It has been recognised for diverting 97% of […]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has become the first public sector organisation to be awarded the international standard for waste reduction.

It has been recognised for diverting 97% of its waste away from landfill, with almost all of the rubbish being recycled or incinerated with heat recovery.

The Carbon Trust Waste Standard, launched in the UK last November, assesses organisations on how they measure, manage and cut their solid and hazardous waste.

The FCO, which promotes British interests overseas, has also been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for reducing greenhouse gases as it has cut carbon emissions of its UK operations by 23% between 2009/10 and 2012/13.

Owen Richards, the FCO’s Sustainable Operations Manager said: “We are delighted to be the first public organisation to have been certified to the Carbon Trust Waste Standard as well as to the Carbon Trust Standard. We are continuously monitoring utility and travel data to spot waste or find scope for improvement. With technology constantly advancing, there will always be opportunities for the FCO to do its vital work but with a smaller environmental footprint and at lower cost.”

The FCO said it is also looking at ways to conserve water and use more LED lights.

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