Becoming a Green Zone

To become a Green Zone, you need to show that your street has made some simple changes in four areas:

• waste and recycling
  
• energy efficiency
  
• water efficiency and
  
• transport.
  

Step one - getting involved

You contact us with an interest in taking part in the scheme.  We arrange to meet you to deliver the scheme.

Step two - training

We come to meet you and give you training so you can do the project in your street.  You will also be given all the equipment you need to deliver the project at this meeting.

You will be given:

• a clipboard for writing
• a letter of authorisation from us
• the Green Zone surveys
• a "sorry we missed you" card
• freebies, as available at the time, provided by us.
  

Step three - doorstepping

As a Green Zone leader, you will be doing the important task of meeting your neighbours by knocking on their doors. This is how to raise environmental awareness and encourage action.  We will write to your neighbours about the scheme so that they expect your visit.

What to do

Work through the survey with your neighbour on the doorstep. This will help with the conversation and gathering the information needed.

What if they are not in?

We suggest you only call a couple of times. Rather than keep visiting, post the survey through the door with the 'sorry we missed you' card asking them to complete the survey. Don't forget to say when you want it back.

Step four - returning the surveys

Once you have completed the survey with your neighbours, you return the completed surveys to us.  We will come and collect them.

Step five - data processing

Once we get the surveys back from you we process all the information to see if you have met the Green Zones criteria.  We will contact you and your neighbours shortly after to let you know if your street is a Green Zone.

If you are interested in taking part in the Green Zone scheme, we will arrange a convenient time to come and meet you and talk through the scheme to see if you want to take part. To arrange a meeting or get more details, please get in touch with us at streetcare@brent.gov.uk or call 020 8937 5050.

What happens if my street does not meet the Green Zones criteria?

We would like to see as many streets as possible become Green Zones, so we will support any street that does not meet the criteria. We will help you work out what you need to do to pass.

What happens once my street becomes a Green Zone?

We will contact you and your neighbours and offer your reward to you.

What are the Green Zones criteria?

To become a Green Zone, you need to show that your street has made simple changes in four areas:

• waste and recycling
• energy efficiency
• water efficiency
• transport

To do this, your neighbours must demonstrate that:
at least five materials are regularly recycled in the green box in over 65 per cent of households in the zon

• at least two materials are regularly recycled in the green organics bin in over 65 per cent of households in the zone
• at least three low energy light bulbs are in use in over 65 per cent of households in the zone
• at least one water saving device is used by over 70 per cent of households in the zone
• at least one alternative transport method to the car is used in over 30 per cent of households in the zone.

Finally, to be a Green Zone, you should gather information from at least nine out of every ten households in the zone.

The process of becoming a Green Zone takes a couple of weeks.

Can I take part if I live in a flat?

Yes, you can still take part if you live in a flat.  Flats in converted houses have a green box kerbside collection and can take part in the Green Zone scheme as normal.

Estates with communal recycling bins have bins for paper (including telephone directories), metal (cans, aluminium foil and aerosols) and glass, allowing you to recycle six of the Green Zones materials.  Your Green Zone leader will also write on the survey that the household is a flat so that we know to consider this when we process the data.

What if I have a biodegradable sack collection instead of a green organics bin?

If you have a biodegradable sack collection, we will change the green bin recycling criteria to consider the fact that you can only recycle garden waste, not cardboard and food waste.