Clean and Green

Streetscene is working hard to be as environmentally friendly as possible. We already follow several 'greener' solutions and responses and are always considering more environmentally aware options.

The E-Gator: (pictured left) We have invested in our first environmentally friendly vehicle, an electronic Gator truck. The E-Gator and trailer is multi-functional as it can be used to collect garden waste and litter bags from around the town and is environmentally friendly as it runs on a large, rechargeable batteries so are less polluting.

Flytipping: Any flytipped metal is taken to the scrapyard for recycling rather than added to the general waste collection.

Wood chipping: Any tree cutting or hedge trimming remains are put through our wood chipper and used as ground covering on our shrub beds all over the borough, or donated to volunteer groups such as with the residents of Pennycroft flats.

Composting: All the remains from the floral displays (flowers and recyclable liner) are put into the composting bin at the Riverway Nursery and put out onto the bedding the following year. It is also used as a base in the larger cauldrons and tubs to save on compost.

Peat Free Soils: We have been trying out peat free soils.

Hanging baskets: In 2005 we invested in 560 'self-watering' hanging baskets for our summer floral displays that feature as part of our In Bloom entry. The baskets have a 'reservoir' at the bottom and draw water up through a 'wick' into the soil above. The result was that we dramatically reduced the amount of times the baskets had to be watered throughout the summer, saving on both water supplies and manpower.

Basket lining: We use a non-moss, fully recyclable lining for our cauldrons. Supamoss is made from natural reclaimed vegetable fibres and dyed with natural dyes.

Weedkillers: We are not using so many weedkillers around the borough. As much as possible we are using contact killers that kill the weeds there and then rather than residual ones that stay in the ground.

Biodiversity areas: There are certain areas around town that we leave as Biodiversity areas, meaning they are only cut once a year, allowing for a more natural environment for wildlife. Such areas include land on Castlefields and Weston Downs, Stafford, and in Little Haywood.