UK: The Port of Felixstowe is celebrating after winning one award, and being runner-up in a second category at Suffolk County Council's Creating the Greenest County Awards 2010.
The port's travel plan won the Business Transport Award at a ceremony attended by over 200 guests to celebrate the environmental excellence of businesses, schools, and community groups across Suffolk.
The travel plan seeks to reduce the environmental impact of the port's 2,400 employees as they journey to and from work. As well as encouraging greater use of public transport, the plan has reduced significantly the number of employees travelling in a Single-Occupancy Vehicles (SOV). The port has achieved this by launching a car-sharing website to encourage employees to "lift-share", and by encouraging the use of alternative forms of transport.
Facilities at the port for cyclists, including refurbished cycle sheds and the provision of a cross-port cycle path, have also been improved.
The UK's largest container port was also runner-up in the business waste category for its waste management system. The accolade recognised the port's achievement in reducing the quantity of waste and recycling a greater proportion of the waste produced. Over 50 percent of the port's waste is recycled and the scheme has so far diverted over 3,300 tonnes of waste from local landfill sites.
