Your future Solihull - How you can help

How you can help

Everyone has their part to play in making Solihull more sustainable, looking after the natural environment and collectively reducing our emissions. Here are some tips, sorted into key themes, to get you started.

Nature and Environment

  • Help us plant more trees! Get in touch with the Planting Our Future Team by emailing plantingourfuture@solihull.gov.uk, or find out more information here.
  • Volunteer at your local park and sign up to a ‘Friends Of’ group.
  • Help take care of Solihull by volunteering with the Solihull Conservation Volunteers (SCV).
  • If you are passionate about helping keep our borough clean and tidy, why not join our team of Love Solihull litter picking volunteers?
  • Try to eat less meat - globally, the UN estimates livestock emissions contribute towards 14% of all man-made greenhouse gases, including methane.
  • Conserve water at home by taking shorter showers, shutting off taps when not in use, and collecting rain in garden water butts – it’s free water and better for watering your plants! 
  • If you find a hedgehog in need, reach out to Solihogs Hedgehog Rescue.

Transport and Travel

  • Consider switching to an electric car to help reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. Read more on our Electric Vehicle Strategy to learn more about the benefits, or see what current EV charging infrastructure is available in Solihull by visiting ZapMap.
     

  • Get on your bike! If you’re able to ride, reap the health, environmental and wellbeing benefits of active travel. Did you know we have four community cycling hubs in Solihull? Find out more here.
  • Ditch the car for short journeys and walk down to your local cafe, park or groceries shop more often.
  • Commute to work by cycling, walking or using public transport. It's beneficial to both the environment, and our health. Click here for more information
  • Travel by public transport to reduce your personal carbon footprint! Buses and trains carry far more passengers and take up significantly less space than single-occupancy vehicles. Use the Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) journey planner to check times and plan your journey
  • Join Love to Ride in Solihull! Solihull Council has joined forces with cycling platform Love to Ride to promote the benefits of cycling to residents and businesses across the borough. You can share routes, monitor progress, and win great prizes! 

Buildings

  • Find out your energy performance certificate (EPC) rating. View the government website to get started. This is a crucial first step to understanding how to make your home more energy efficient.
  • Take a look at Simple Energy Advice for tips on making your home warmer, reducing energy bills and planning home improvements.
  • Get a smart meter and see how much energy you are using and how much it costs in real time. Get in touch with your energy supplier, who can arrange for smart meters to be installed at a time and date that suits you. 
  • Consider investing in your home to make it more energy efficient. This might include retrofitting your home with insulation or solar panels and you could qualify for assistance. Get in touch with Act on Energy by calling 0800 988 2881 or fill out this contact form.
  • Find out what support could be available to help you upgrade your home by visiting our dedicated energy efficiency grants page.
  • Shift to using low carbon and efficient household appliances when replacing old items with new ones. It will help reduce your energy bills and protect the environment. Look out for the energy rating on any potential purchases
  • Close windows and curtains in the day to keep your house cool and open them at night to prevent overheating. This will keep your home comfortable and save money spent on air conditioning and fans. 
  • Reduce your energy consumption and save money by turning off electrics when not in use, changing your habits by drying clothes in the garden instead of the tumble dryer when the weather is warm, and considering your water usage. 

Waste and recycling

  • Planning a clear out? Before you take a trip to Bickenhill Household Waste and Recycling Centre (tip), think about what can be reused. Donate your old clothes to clothes banks or charity shops. You’ll often find clothes banks at supermarkets.
  • After you’ve sorted out what you can reuse, take a trip to Bickenhill Household Waste and Recycling Centre (tip) where you can recycle a wide variety of items. Book your slot here.
  • Struggling to recycle certain items? TerraCycle are an innovative recycling company which specialises in hard-to-recycle waste. You can also find out what you can recycle at home or in your local area on Recycle Now.
  • Refreshing your wardrobe? Instead of throwing clothes away, consider buying from or donating to charity shops; using websites such as Vinted, Depop and Ebay; or bringing old garments back to life by taking broken clothing to a tailor or re-purposing them into something new.
  • Did you know you can make money on your recyclables by taking them to high-street shops? H&M offer a £5 voucher for a bag of unwanted clothes, Boots offer £5 when you spend £10 if you recycle five empty cosmetic or toiletry containers, while recycling shoes with Schuh will earn you £5 off when you spend £25. Check out MoneySavingExpert for more.
  • Get composting – getcomposting.com provide information on home compost bins, water butts and other green products.
  • Help reduce food waste by signing up to surplus food marketplaces such as Olio or Too Good To Go. They are a great way to enjoy food that would otherwise go to waste at local cafes and restaurants, for a fraction of the price…or even for free. Visit Love Food Hate Waste for more great tips.
  • According to statistics, 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced each year and 40% of that is single use. Help reduce single-use plastics by using reusable bottles or containers or switching from plastic wrapping to reusable containers or wraps.
  • Play your part in reducing single-use packaging and save money by taking a reusable cup to high-street coffee shops. Pret a Manger offer a 50p discount, while Greggs and Starbucks give 25p off.
  • Book a free small items collection for your old batteries, small electrical items, paint, textiles and shoes.
  • Head over to our Reduce, Reuse and Recycle page for more great tips on how you can give the environment a helping hand.

Education and Engagement

  • Start a conversation with your children about climate change and sustainability. Why not ask them what they’ve been learning about in school on the topic? They might even have some tips for you!
  • Complete your free Carbon Literacy training, offered by the WMCA and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - find out more here.
  • Get involved with local sustainable themed events happening throughout the year in Solihull, for example the Solihull Fairtrade Trail.
  • We’re regularly seeking feedback on climate change proposals and initiatives. Keep up to date with all future engagement on the Council’s consultation portal.
  • Take a look at the BBC Bitesize Regenerators, which aims to inspire children and teenagers to live a greener life and encourage others to look after the planet.