The Council has agreed an Objective to ‘Develop and implement a strategy for the Council to improve its carbon footprint and sustainability’.  A working party has been set up to provide oversight on the progress of the work identified in the Councils Eco Audit Report, January 2021. 

Planned Outcome: Reduced carbon footprint, improved sustainability, and demonstrated exemplary implementation encouraging best practices in the wider community of Hertford.

Key Achievements to date 

(Current Status of all actions is included in the Working Party Meeting Agenda) 

• Loft Insulation has been installed at the Castle and Seed Warehouse
• Halogen lights replaced with LED ones at the Castle and War Memorial
• 90% of all lights in the Town Council Offices have been replaced with LED
• Listed building consent has been applied for to replace heating at the Castle with more efficient infra-red panels
• Investigatory work undertaken into improving insulation and heating systems in the Seed Warehouse
• Greenspace Action Plans adopted for the Council Cemetery and All Saints Churchyard

Hertford Town Council Environmental Sustainability Action Plan 

To discover more on the progress of the plan please visit Council Meetings

10 Top Tips for reducing your carbon footprint 

1. Improve the energy efficiency of your home – visit Improve Energy to get a list of recommendations. Click here for information on grants available
2. Switch to a renewable energy provider for your home
3. Switch to low-carbon travel wherever possible.  Find out more about cycling routes and clubs in Hertford 
4. Reduce, reuse, recycle! There are a number of charity shops in Hertford with a huge choice of quality second-hand items visit ‘Go hertford’ for details
   For information on what you can recycle and where see, East Herts
5. Reduce your meat and dairy consumption. For ideas see Meat Free Mondays
6. Buy Local! Visit Go hertford for details on the variety of shops and businesses in the town
7. Ways to reduce your food waste. Swap homemade or homegrown items at a free food swap 1st Saturday of every month upstairs at Mudlarks Cafe. For more ideas visit Love Food Hate Waste
8. You can support local and sustainable businesses when purchasing new items. For example, Coffee shops in Hertford that will fill up your reusable cup include Mudlarks
9. Volunteer to improve your local environment. Click here
10. Calculate your personal carbon footprint

Other places to reduce waste and recycle in Hertford

• Download the refill app to find out where you can refill water bottles and reuse coffee cups at Refill
• Disposable contact lens case recycling – Boots opticians, Maidenhead Street, Hertford
• Battery recycling and soft plastics recycling – Tesco, Ware Road, Hertford
• Water filter recycling – Sainsbury's, Hartham Lane Hertford
• Dental product recycling at Natural Health, Bull Plain

Sustainability grants, schemes, and advice

• Local and central Government grants, schemes, and advice are available to reduce the cost and environmental impact of home and business energy consumption
• Everybody can benefit - businesses, homeowners, residential landlords, private and social housing tenants, and those on low incomes. For details visit East Herts

Get involved

If you are aware of any other initiatives in Hertford please email us on info@hertford.gov.uk