News round-up / Health board performs well, cans scheme comes to an end, concerts raise cash
NHS Shetland has performed well in a new assessment of environmental impact.
The health board secured the second highest rating among 22 other boards for management of greenhouse gases, and for its estate and services staff meeting climate change challenges.
NHS Shetland came third in waste management and environmental management.
The results were released through the new NHS Scotland sustainability assessment tool, which looks at a range of issues from management of capital projects and active travel to ethical issues and sustainable care.
NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts said: “Our board operates across an area of great environmental beauty and we recognise we have a responsibility to manage our services in a sustainable way.
“It is heartening to know that we are doing comparatively well in reducing our impact on the environment.”
Sustainability and environmental manager Lawson Bisset added: “While these results are encouraging, we recognise that NHS Shetland – like other organisations – cannot be complacent in the face of growing environmental challenges like climate change.
“We will continue to strive for excellence in our environmental performance.”
SHETLAND Amenity Trust has reflected on its ‘Cash for Cans’ scheme as it comes to an end this month.
As previously reported, the organisation is calling time on the project to avoid duplication with Shetland Islands Council’s kerbside recycling scheme.
Over the last 30 years nearly 200 tonnes of cans which would have gone to landfill have been recycled through the scheme.
This recycling of nearly six million cans has in turn raised over £100,00 for local community groups and charities.
Shetland Amenity Trust chairwoman Ruth Mackenzie said: “We are delighted that recycling is now more mainstream and that the council collect cans direct from our homes for recycling and will soon roll this out for commercial recycling.
“This means that we can now concentrate our efforts on other projects, to continue to care for and improve Shetland’s incredible environment. We would like to thank all those groups who participated over the years and made the scheme such a success.”
The scheme saw community groups collect cans before sending them on to the Amenity Trust.
The cans were sent in bulk to be recycled and the money gained from this was distributed between the groups and local charities.
OVER £6,700 was raised for charity at the weekend thanks to two concerts.
A gospel concert held at the Cunningsburgh Hall on Friday took in £2,213.42, and this was matched by insurance company TL Dallas.
The money will be distributed to the Shetland MRI scanner appeal, Mind Your Head and Alzheimer Scotland.
A variety concert at the Sound Hall in Lerwick on Saturday, meanwhile, raised £2,303 for Macmillan Cancer Care.
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