Environment in Bristol facts for kids

Bristol is a city in the UK known for being very eco-friendly! In 2008, an environmental group called Forum for the Future said it was the most sustainable city in the UK. This means Bristol is great at protecting the environment. Later, in 2015, Bristol even won the special European Green Capital Award. Many groups work together with the City Council to make Bristol a "Green Capital." The city is also home to important charities like Sustrans and the Soil Association. Bristol helps its residents recycle lots of different things from their homes.

Why Bristol is a Green City

Bristol's Top Eco-Friendly Ranking

In 2008, Bristol was named the UK's most sustainable city. This was decided by the environmental charity Forum for the Future. They looked at how well Bristol protected its environment. They also checked the quality of life for people living there. Other factors included how the city prepared for the future. They also looked at how Bristol was dealing with climate change, recycling, and protecting different kinds of plants and animals.

Winning the European Green Capital Award

Bristol received a big honor in 2015. It won the European Green Capital Award. This award recognizes cities that are leaders in environmental efforts.

Bristol's Green Projects

The Bristol Green Capital Initiative

In 2007, a group called the Bristol Partnership started something new. They launched the Green Capital initiative. Their goal was to invite everyone in the city to help. They wanted to tackle climate change together. They also aimed to make Bristol a top "green capital" in the UK.

The City Council helps fund the Green Capital Partnership. In 2010, they even created a special job for a manager. The council also has its own Green Capital Action Plan. This plan guides their environmental work.

The Partnership has two main groups. These are the Momentum Group and the Steering Group. The Momentum Group meets every three months. Anyone can join if they promise to help Bristol become a low-carbon city. This means reducing pollution. They also want to keep a good quality of life for everyone. The Steering Group is made up of leaders from different partner organizations. They decide how to spend the money. They also guide the manager's work.

Sustrans: Promoting Green Travel

Sustrans is a British charity based in Bristol. This group works to encourage sustainable transport. This means using ways to travel that are good for the environment. For example, they promote walking and cycling. The very first route in the National Cycle Network was built by Sustrans. It connects Bristol to Bath.

Resourcesaver: Early Recycling Efforts

"Resourcesaver" started in 1988. It was a non-profit business. It was created by a local environmental group called Avon Friends of the Earth.

Managing Waste in Bristol

Bristol has different ways to collect household waste. This helps the city manage its trash. They separate waste into several types.

• There are two types of recyclable waste. These are materials that can be used again.
• They also collect food waste. This is often turned into compost.
• Garden waste, like grass clippings, is collected too.
• Finally, there is non-recyclable waste. This is what's left over.

Bristol also has many recycling banks around the city. These are places where people can drop off items for recycling. There are two main centers for household recycling. These are located in Avonmouth and St Philips. Plans for a third site in Hartcliffe were put on hold in 2015.