Case study: FBU reps at Bury St Edmunds Fire Station, Suffolk

After attending a TUC conference on how to “Go Green at work”, FBU rep Paul Turner began to raise the profile of environmental issues at the fire station where he works with which in one instance resulted in recycled fire hoses being turned into designer bags and hammocks for monkey enclosures.

He has introduced recycling, composting and energy efficiency measures into his workplace and has been working with management regionally to improve the service’s environmental impact. Initial actions include:

• Discussions with management on making new build fire stations and refurbished stations in the region more energy efficient.

• Identifying energy efficiency measures to improve the environmental performance of fires stations.

• Getting agreement that the Fire Brigade improve the communication of its environmental goals by making its Directorate Environmental Action Plan (DEAP) more reader friendly.

• Gaining agreement from management to recycle condemned fire hoses at Bury fire station. The hoses used to be sent to landfill but are now being turned into designer bags and belts. The company involved has agreed to donate 50% of the profits to the Firefighters Charity and the scheme will reduce the amount of landfill tax the service has to pay. The union aims to get neighbouring fire authorities to join the scheme. In addition, fire hose has been donated to Colchester zoo for use in monkey and ape enclosures and have been made into hammocks and swings.

• Lowestoft and Bury fire stations have successfully bid for compost bins and staff at each station will be given priority to take part in a composting course.

• After applying for £300 from the County Council’s 'Environmental fund' in July 2010, Turner convinced brigade management to get personal issue drinks bottles for all operational personnel in Suffolk. Although it is not intended to fully eliminate purchased bottled water, as bottles will still be needed at an incident, the rep hopes it will significantly reduce the need for most of the bottled water used during training and daily use.

• An environmental audit of the FBU’s own regional office in Essex.

Turner could achieve much more if he had facility time and so he has asked for union green reps to be granted facility time within DEAP.

He said: “Union members in other fire stations have said they would be keen to act as a contact point on green issues. Getting facility time would mean I could attend meetings with management, other reps in stations and across the region. Although this has not yet been granted, I am hopeful that the recognition that I have received from the brigade’s principle officers will be a platform on which to convince them of the need for facilities time.”

Turner has also organised an eco-fair at Bury Fire Station attracting a multitude of charities, organisations and businesses from across the region to participate. The event has provided an opportunity to get other union members involved in environmental issues. Funds raised at the eco-fair were ring fenced to help pay for its sedum roof. To make the most of communication and publicity networks, Turner has joined forces with local green campaigners to publicise the event to a wider audience, including an interview on Radio Suffolk.

He said: “There are many colleagues in my station who are now offering assistance especially, with the Eco-fair. I am really encouraged by the way they have understood what I am doing.”