Taxi staff deliver for environment

SOUTH Coast Taxis is starting a program that will see its taxis become carbon neutral by offsetting their taxis’ emissions with local revegetation projects.
“The environment is this region’s most valuable asset and its’ biggest draw card, and we want to do our part in protecting and enhancing it,” Michael Wright of South Coast Taxis said.
“We recognise the interdependence of the community, the natural environment and the economy and have been inspired by other environmental projects being conducted by Phillip Island Nature Parks, ‘plastic bag free’ campaign, Bass Coast Shire Council’s reducing landfill waste system and recommended environmental actions from the Visitor Economy Strategy.”
South Coast Taxis started a program to replace its taxi fleet with environmentally friendly hybrid (gas/electric) vehicles 18 months ago and hopes to promote the hybrid vehicles’ eco credentials through this initiative.
“LPG gas burns cleaner than most alternatives and said to cut greenhouse gas by more than 10 percent on other commonly used fuels and then of course majority of our fleet are hybrid vehicles which use a lot less fuel than your average vehicle, meaning we are producing a lot less emissions,” Mr Wright said.
“This means offsetting the balance is now achievable to us.”
South Coast Taxis is partnering with Bass Coast Landcare Network to offset their CO2 emissions under a voluntary carbon scheme that will see 1800 new trees planted on a selected site as a commencement of this project.
“Part of the motivation was to support the Phillip Island Visitor Economy Strategies aspiration to increase native revegetation from the current seven percent to 30 percent over the next 20 years,” Mr Wright said.
“In support of this we requested a site on Phillip Island and are participating in a revegetation project being conducted at the Shearing Shed on Gap Road.
“As an organisation we hope to make this an ongoing commitment annually and over time see the benefits grow before our very eyes in areas across the region.”
To add value to this program South Coast Taxis staff actively participated in planting these trees.
Last Wednesday, members of the office, workshop and driving staff rolled up their sleeves and did just that.
“We had perfect weather and it was great to get out and do something different together. The Shearing Shed is one we work with, providing transport for its functions and so it was nice to support its revegetation project as part of our first carbon offset day,” Mr Wright said.
“We see this wetland regeneration project as a positive initiative and we’re very happy to be a part of it.”

On the ground: South Coast Taxis staff planted trees at the Shearing Shed, Phillip Island, last Wednesday to help offset their fleet’s carbon emissions.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Oct 10 2017. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry