Green ‘example’

By Paul Pickering
THE Knox City Council will tonight unveil evidence that it has “led by example” on the issue of green purchasing, but Knox environmentalists say they remain unconvinced.
The debate will be back on the agenda when council reconvenes tonight for the first meeting of 2007.
The Green Purchasing Report, compiled by conservation officer Deanne Jones, “outlines the substantial growth in the percentage of green purchasing across council and its continuing growth”.
According to the report, buying green refers to a focus on buying and using recycled, energy-efficient, water-saving and less toxic products.
In keeping with its membership of the ECOBuy Network, Knox Council’s commitment to these practices in the 2005-06 financial year has yielded a 47 per cent increase in green purchases, with a total of almost $1.8 million being spent of green products.
Mrs Jones lists some of council’s major achievements during the year as: its participation in two regional green product expos; the purchase of recycled-content white and coloured paper; and the purchase of more efficient gas and dual-fuel vehicles for the council fleet.
Although the report details an apparent triumph of social responsibility, Knox Environment Society president Darren Wallace is keen to cut through the haze of self-congratulation.
Mr Wallace said: “In relation to the size of council’s budget, I think they’re still spending a relatively small amount of money on green products.”
The Knox Environment Society calculates council’s green expenditure at just 2 per cent of the entire budget, prompting Mr Wallace to say: “Knox have failed the test of leading by example on green purchasing.”
Mr Wallace believes that council is falling behind in the areas of water and energy conservation, noting the need to install water tanks and solar panels in council buildings. Much of Mr Wallace’s scepticism relates to the theme of “increased sustainability” that permeates Mrs Jones’ report.
The report positions this increased sustainability as a commitment to “reducing council’s environmental footprint”, but Mr Wallace said it is simply a euphemism for convenient cost cutting.
“When it comes to water and energy conservation, it isn’t a matter of ‘Can you afford to go green?’, but ‘Can you afford not to go green?’,” he said.
Although there may be some doubt whether the report reflects council’s commitment to environmentalism or simply its shrewd business acumen, it seems both parties can agree on council’s need to further increase its efforts.
Knox’s manager of sustainability, Andrew Paxton is keen to note the advances council is set to make in the purchasing of green energy.
“Knox Council has committed to purchase 50 per cent green energy as part of a new contract with Energex, which will cover all electricity and related services for public lighting throughout the municipality,” he said.
Mr Wallace welcomes such advancements, but this evening’s meeting will place him beside fellow members of the public asking council to shed further light on the issue of green purchasing.