Communications Assistant Rachel Wade brings us up to speed on the latest environmental programmes and plans at the trust.

York Museums Trust became an independent charitable trust on 1 August 2002 having previously been run by the City of York Council. One of our organisation’s key objectives is to protect and conserve the collections, gardens and buildings entrusted to us.

More recently, we have been working towards extending this aim to the wider environment and looking for ways to protect and conserve through recycling, reducing and reusing. Not only are these beneficial environmentally but they have also helped us financially.

Within the past year, we have massively increased the volume and variety of materials that we recycle. Our museums, gallery and offices have regular collections, including from the team at the St Nicks Environment Centre in York.

 

St Nicks even do their recycling in an environmentally friendly way, collecting our paper, cardboard, glass and plastics by bike. We also recycle more unusual items such as used stationary and coffee jar lids, as well as a large proportion of the waste products from our cafes and shops.

As we are now recycling much more, we have reduced the number of bags for landfill – this is not only better for the environment but also helps us lower expenses. Even books and magazines get recycled with Reading Swaps in the staff rooms.

We also aim to conserve energy too. Considerations such as switching lights and electrical equipment off in unused offices, keeping doors closed to retain heat, wearing extra clothing and making rounds of hot drinks instead of single ones all help to keep energy usage low.

As part of the redevelopment of York Art Gallery, we were able to introduce solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to the building so that we can produce some of our own electricity.

These changes, however small, all contribute to helping our organisation look after the environment as much as we look after our collections and buildings. It has also been a great way to boost morale – after all, doing good feels good!

We are always looking for different ways to improve what we do at York Museums Trust and welcome the opportunity to try new ideas. Our commitment to recycling, reducing and reusing is something we will continue to work towards for a better future for everyone.