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The Municipality of Gotland, the largest employer on Gotland,
has been proclaimed an Eco-municipality since 1992 and has adopted
the following overall goals for sustainable development.
• Gotland shall become a sustainable community within
one generation, by 2025.
• Gotland shall become a zero emission zone.
• Gotland’s energy supply will be based on renewable
energy sources.
Since 1994 wide-range Agenda 21 efforts have been made on Gotland
aimed at inspiring all Gotlanders to take responsibility for
developing a sustainable community.
Great progress has been made in the areas of waste disposal
and energy. Nowadays most waste is sorted for material and energy
recycling. The percentage of renewable energy, mainly wind power
and bio-fuels is increasing all the time and several good examples
in the area of energy and the environment are constantly appearing.
Biogas is extracted at the municipal sewage treatment works
as well as the municipal agricultural school. More and more
farms are converting to organic methods and conventional farms
follow special environmental programmes. Pre-schools and schools
are working on environmental certification according to “Green
Flag” guidelines. There are several exciting examples
of building construction directed at environment and energy
on the island.
Re-use and recycling of wastes
Gotlanders produce about 295 kg of waste per person and year.
Of this about 140 kg /person is sorted for recycling (46%),
the rest is sent to the mainland for incineration. Most of it
is sorted into different groups such as paper, metal, glass
and hazardous wastes. Every year Gotlanders sort out about 3
kg of hazardous wastes per person, which is taken care of in
an environmental-friendly way. Things like batteries, solvents,
pest control chemicals, used oil, etc are examples of hazardous
wastes. Dealing with waste is an important environmental issue
for Gotland due to its vulnerable island position. During a
few summer months the population of the island increases from
57,000 to more than 200,000 which means an increased hazard
to the island’s ground water which is susceptible to pollution
from sewage, chemicals, oil spills and other contamination.
Contact: Bengt-Olof Grahn
E-mail: bengtolof.grahn@gotland.se
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Renewable
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Eko-municipality of
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