Sustainability and Environment
We aim for Weymouth to be a green town that reduces its carbon footprint year on year and seeks to protect nature. In 2019, we declared a climate and ecological emergency and have committed to making our activities net zero carbon by 2030. Our Biodiversity Policy aims to ensure we maintain and enhance existing wildlife-rich habitats as well as creating new habitats, and our Single Use Plastics Policy commits us to reduce and where possible, remove single use plastics from the Council’s operations and services.
Current and Future Work
- Upgrading our toilet blocks to have sensor operated and water efficient flushes and taps and LED lighting.
- Our Tree Management Policy commits us to replacing every tree we have to remove by planting two in its place
- The majority of our green waste is taken to Tumbledown Community Growspace for composting
- We operate a Living Cemeteries policy which involves measures such as allowing grass to grow longer in dedicated areas to create wildlife habitats Melcombe and Wyke Cemeteries are officially Living Churchyards – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
- All policy papers submitted to the Council and its committees include a Climate Change Impact Assessment
Our Journey
2026
- March: Overcombe Corner Public Toilets refurbished with a water efficient mains flushing system, sensor operated flushes and taps and LED lighting, as well as a water refill point.
- April: Co-hosted a Flood Ready drop-in event with the Environment Agency, Dorset Coast Forum and local flood wardens to raise awareness of flood preparedness. Hosted a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing at the Council Chamber
- June: Water refill points installed at Overcombe, Swannery and Nothe toilets
- August: Displayed artworks from local schools and youth groups on the seafront over the summer holidays as part of our Beach Waste Sculpture Project
2025
- March 2025: Cove Street Toilets refurbished with water efficient, sensor flushes and taps and energy efficient LED lighting.
- April 2025 Tumbledown Kestrel Barn opened with 45 solar panels to provide electricity and air source heat pumps for heat it also has a good level of insulation and a wooden framed building. LED lighting.
- February 2025 Requested change to the Town Bridge Harbourmaster announcement to remind people to switch off their engines Mayor joins school children at town bridge to say “thank you” – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
2024
- Feb 2024 – volunteers and groups have planted over 350 trees at Tumbledown https://www.weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk/news/hundreds-of-trees-planted-at-tumbledown-to-help-biodiversity/
- Mar 2024 Climate, Ecological and Emergency group secured £10,000 to be used for CEE related grants to help improve businesses and organisations with green initiatives, such as upgrading a boiler, installing LED lighting New grants scheme approved – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
2023
- Jan 2023 As part of the Building Resilience In Communities (BRIC) project several volunteer community flood wardens for Melcombe Regis were recruited and trained
- Feb 23: Solar Panels installed at Swannery and Lodmoor toilet blocks and the Beach Office
- Jun 2023 Expanded the Beach Toy Library to two more locations Weymouth Beach Toy Library is Expanding! – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
- Jul 2023 Installed 20 free water re-fill taps along Weymouth beach between Weymouth Pavilion to Greenhill Gardens ‘Tappy hour’ event to promote water refill stations – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
- Aug 2023 Weymouth Trails website created highlighting walks and cycle routes around Weymouth
- Oct 2023 Working with Dorset Council Emergency planning and Resilience Department, produced and adopted a Community Emergency Response Plan
2022
- Jul 2022 Worked in partnership with Litter Free Dorset and Weymouth and Portland Marine Litter Project to provide a Beach Toy Library over the summer period. Borrow & Reuse Free Beach Toys at Weymouth’s New Toy Library! – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
- Nov 2022 Became a partner organization in a project by Dorset Coast Forum to create a Guide to Flood Risk for residents in Melcombe Regis and Weymouth Harbour
- Nov 2022 The Wilder Weymouth project sows30kg of wildflower seed across ten patches of amenity grassland https://www.weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk/news/weymouth-goes-wild-2/
2021
- April 2021 – Planted 130 fruit trees at Tumbledown Farm Planting a community orchard at Tumbledown – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
- Jun 2021 – Wessex Water re-fill stations installed in Hope Square, Alexandra Gardens and on The Promenade
- Sep 2021 Decarbonisation Action plan created and adopted
- Dec 2021 Introduced a Single Use Plastic Policy and regularly audit our departments to promote reduction in single use plastics Together, let’s stamp out single use plastic in Weymouth – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
2020
- Jun 2020 Baseline carbon footprint report completed by the Carbon Trust
- Jul 2020 Invested in our first electric fleet vehicle Weymouth Town Council invests in electric vehicle – Weymouth Town Council | Weymouth Town Council
- Oct 2020 Weymouth Harbour and Esplanade Flood and Coastal Risk Management Strategy document created
- Dec 2020-Feb 2021 521 native wildlife-friendly saplings planted at Links Road in Westham
Our Performance
Click here to view our most recent Environmental Performance report. you can also view the latest carbon footprint report here.
Electricity consumption fell steadily since peaking in 2023. Lower usage in 20/21 and 21/22 was due to the pandemic. Recent reductions are due to ongoing asset upgrades and improved energy efficiency, for example refurbishment works at Cove Street toilets.
The number of toilet facilities and allotment sites we operate account for the greatest water consumption shown on the graph, left.
Directory and Useful Links
Waste and Resource Use
Dorset Council Waste Services:
Information on bins, recycling and waste
Litter Free Dorset:
Campaigns and advice on litter, waste and improving water quality in Dorset
Weymouth and Portland Marine Litter Project:
Local voluntary organisation conducting litter picks, awareness raising and community recycling projects
Walking, Cycling and Sustainable Transport
Weymouth Trails:
A collection of mapped walking routes in Weymouth.
Beryl Bike Scheme:
E-Bike hire scheme in Weymouth
Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell Transport Action Group:
Local community group campaigning for better, safer and more sustainable public transport and active travel
Energy and Climate
Dorset Council:
Advice and guidance on home energy use, how to save energy and what support is available.
Citizens Advice:
Help and advice on saving energy and paying energy bills.
Resilience and Emergency Planning:
Help and advice on saving energy and paying energy bills.
Natural Environment and Biodiversity
Nature Recovery Dorset:
Read about Dorset Council’s work to restore, enhance and connect spaces for nature in our county.
Dorset Wildlife Trust:
Visit a nature reserve or visitor centre, take part in an event, volunteer or read about what you can do to care for nature in Dorset.
Dorset Explorer:
Interactive mapping tool provided by Dorset Council with map layers showing ward boundaries, public rights of way and land designations.