​​​​​​​Bond Dickinson lawyer recognised as environmental expert

Sarah Holmes, Legal Director at national law firm Bond Dickinson, has received two national qualifications in recognition of her expertise in the waste, environment and sustainability sectors, becoming a Chartered Waste Manager as well as a Chartered Environmentalist.

Sarah, who has 27 years of practical experience in the sectors, is one of just a few solicitors to receive both qualifications, which are awarded by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Society for the Environment following a comprehensive application and interview process. The Chartered status recognises skill, experience and work at the highest possible standards for the waste and environmental sectors. 

Sarah commented: "I have been working in waste management and environmental issues for more than 25 years, providing clients with key legal expertise as well as driving the sustainability best practice here at Bond Dickinson and more widely. I am delighted to have become both a Chartered Waste Manager and a Chartered Environmentalist, demonstrating my passion for sustainability, including promotion of the circular economy.

"I am grateful for the support Bond Dickinson has provided me in putting my applications forward and this very positive result highlights the firm's commitment to continually challenge ourselves to raise our standards when it comes to sustainability and the quality of the services we provide."

“With her wealth of experience and professionalism, we are delighted that Sarah has progressed to Chartered status and we look forward to working with her, both in an individual capacity and through CIWM’s South West Centre,” says CIWM’s deputy chief executive Chris Murphy.

Bond Dickinson was also recently awarded the ISO14001 accreditation, the global gold standard accolade for environmental management and is working in close collaboration with the Legal Sustainability Alliance to reduce CO2 emissions and adopt environmentally sustainable practices. It is currently the only law firm to be an ambassador for the Right Waste, Right Place campaign, a national initiative aimed at raising awareness of the Duty of Care for waste amongst UK businesses.

 

ENDS

For more information, please contact Soraya Thoemmes (Soraya.thoemmes@bonddickinson.com) on 0117 989 6924

Bond Dickinson LLP

Bond Dickinson is a leading UK law firm providing a comprehensive legal service to clients across eight sectors, from seven cities across the UK including London.

Bond Dickinson receives ISO14001 accreditation

National law firm Bond Dickinson has been awarded the ISO14001 accreditation, the global gold standard accolade for environmental management.

ISO14001 provides businesses with a framework for the development of an Environmental Management System, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and providing a systematic approach to continually improving environmental performance.

Bond Dickinson was awarded the accreditation on the back of its strong green credentials and high management standards to make environmental sustainability a priority for the business, having reduced Carbon Dioxide emissions per employee by 21% since 2013, a figure that is expected to rise to 30% by 2020. The firm has also actively engaged its supply chain, working with like-minded suppliers to ensure their environmental policies dovetail with the firm's approach.

Martin Hall, Head of Facilities Management, at Bond Dickinson said: "Increasing demand for official accreditation by both clients and our competitors prompted us to embark on the internationally recognised environmental standard ISO14001. After a rigorous assessment across several of our offices, we're delighted to have received the accreditation, which highlights our commitment to enhancing our environmental performance and finding sustainable ways to improve our environmental management system."

The firm is working in close collaboration with the Legal Sustainability Alliance to establish protocols for the measurement and reduction of CO2 emissions and adopt environmentally sustainable practices. Bond Dickinson was also the first law firm to become an ambassador for the right Waste, right Place campaign, a national initiative aimed at raising awareness of the Duty of Care for waste amongst UK businesses.

A view from inside the waste industry

Tony Baker – Technical Director at GPT Waste Management:

“GPT Waste Management Ltd are proud to be an ambassador for the Right Waste Right Place campaign.

Our mission is to continually raise the awareness of our Customers’ to ensure their statutory obligations regarding waste management are fully understood and met.

The Right Waste Right Place campaign provides waste producers’ with clear, concise and easily accessible “Duty of Care” guidance”.

South Gloucestershire seeks continuous improvement on waste

South Gloucestershire Council:

“We already had a robust policy on waste management in place at South Gloucestershire Council and joining the Right Waste, Right Place campaign as an ambassador has reinforced our commitment to our Duty of Care in waste disposal and to ensure partner agencies, stakeholders and appropriate businesses within our area support and implement those best practice principles.

“As an authority we have created and delivered a number of highly successful, pro-active campaigns to support the Right Waste, Right Place agenda. These include our ongoing aim to increase recycling to over 60 per cent by 2020, a call to action to clean up local neighbourhoods and a crackdown on waste carriers allowing litter to escape from their vehicles on our two busiest stretches of the strategic network in South Gloucestershire.

“All these campaign have proved highly successful and have allowed us to positively engage with thousands of residents on recycling, work collaboratively with a record number of local groups to organise spring cleans and connect with every licensed waste carrier in the region to reduce litter on our networks.

“In addition, we will shortly be holding a two-week awareness campaign on fly tipping, its effect on the community and the legal implications for anyone caught fly tipping. As a district, South Gloucestershire Council holds one of the best records in the country for prosecutions relating to fly tipping incidents and in line with our standard procedures, our dedicated Envirocrime officers will thoroughly investigate all incidents during this fortnight and the Right Waste, Right Place scheme will be used as a tool to advise on best practice. We will also be encouraging the public to report all incidents of fly tipping and key messages will be delivered through our social media channels.”

“Our involvement in the Right Waste, Right Place campaign has also encouraged us to consider how we can develop and improve our own waste disposal policy and work with partners and stakeholders to encourage them to do the same.”

Experience in Westminster

Jarno Stet, Head of Commercial Waste, Westminster City Council:

‘’We see the consequences from the lack of awareness of the Duty of Care on a daily basis. Whether it’s fly-tipping, businesses not recycling, overflowing waste containers or leaking and badly presented bags of rubbish; most waste issues are easily avoided through proper handling by the waste producer in the first place. The right Waste, right Place campaign provides useful tools and guidance for businesses to comply with their duties and helps prevent mismanagement of waste. As such Westminster City Council is proud to support the campaign's good work as an ambassador.’’