A shopping centre hailed as the greenest in Wales is celebrating more eco success after reducing its water consumption by 1.8 million litres.
After a major campaign last year, Eagles Meadow in Wrexham now uses 35 per cent less water and 11 per cent less electricity.
The shopping centre already recycles 92 per cent of the waste produced there – that’s way ahead of the Welsh Government’s recycling targets.
The Government’s statutory target is to recycle 52 per cent of Welsh waste this year, 70 per cent by 2025 and to have zero waste by 2050.
The efforts of the Eagles Meadow team were praised by local AM Lesley Griffiths, who is also the Welsh Government Health Minister.
She said: “It’s really important that we recycle waste and conserve our precious resources.
“We want to make sure that we leave a viable planet for future generations so we really do need to act now.
“Eagles Meadow’s green credentials are impressive. It is really excellent that they have reduced electricity and water consumption so spectacularly on top of recycling more than 90 per cent of their waste.”
Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley is extremely proud of their record but says they aren’t resting on their laurels.
Mr Critchley said: “We believe we may well be the greenest shopping centre in Wales.
“Improving our green credentials and upping our game in terms of being eco-friendly is a major part of my job and one we take very seriously at Eagles Meadow.
“The figures we’ve just collated show we used 35 per cent less water last year than we did the previous year – that equates to 1.8 million litres of water saved. On top of that we cut back on electricity consumption by 11 per cent.
“The reduction was achieved through a number of common sense measures. It was by cleaning and security staff being aware and reporting any waste. Things like leaking taps and toilets where the valve’s gone so it’s constantly cycling.
“The trick is to get them to look for it, to get them involved so they report it and then we quickly get it fixed.
“We’ve got some fantastic people working here who are really committed to Eagles Meadow. All the small savings have combined to make a great big impact.
“We recycle 100 per cent of our cardboard and glass and I’m now looking at ways of upping the percentage of the compacted waste that’s being recycled.
“To put it in some sort of perspective, our recycling percentage in 2010 was 84 per cent and that’s from almost zero from when I arrived here in 2009.
“It’s a superb performance, and I’m rightly proud of the efforts we’ve made and the work that the staff and the contractor have put into it.
“Fortunately, we’re backed up by an owner who’s got a very green policy and has provided fantastic support.”
