Which is the most environmentally-friendly council in the Midlands?

The most environmentally-conscious councils across the Midlands have been revealed in a wide-ranging report looking at everything from recycling rates, to renewable energy, to levels of tree cover.

ITV Central carried out an analysis of a Friends of the Earth league table, which shows Derby City Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council scored joint highest across both the East and West Midlands, with a score of 80%.

Dudley performed the worst, receiving a score of just 44%.

  • Scroll down to see how your council ranked

The environmental group released their report earlier this month, having scored each local authority on household energy efficiency; eco-heating; renewable energy; proportion using public transport, cycling or walking; electric vehicle chargers; lift-sharing; tree cover; and reuse, recycling and composting of household waste.

Recyling rates was one of the factors looked at. Credit: PA

How does your local council measure up?

  • Derby 80%

  • Newark and Sherwood 80%

  • Bassetlaw 76%

  • Newcastle-under-Lyme 76%

  • Stafford 76%

  • Telford and Wrekin 76%

  • Charnwood 72%

  • Chesterfield 72%

  • Gedling 72%

  • Herefordshire 72%

  • North West Leicestershire 72%

  • East Staffordshire 68%

  • Mansfield 68%

  • North East Derbyshire 68%

  • Nottingham 68%

  • Shropshire 68%

  • Stratford-on-Avon 68%

  • Wychavon 68%

  • Ashfield 64%

  • Bromsgrove 64%

  • Leicester 64%

  • Rutland 64%

  • Warwick 64%

  • Wolverhampton 64%

  • Worcester 64%

  • Birmingham 60%

  • Cannock Chase 60%

  • High Peak 60%

  • North Warwickshire 60%

  • Nuneaton and Bedworth 60%

  • Rugby 60%

  • Sandwell 60%

  • South Derbyshire 60%

  • South Staffordshire 60%

  • Bolsover 56%

  • Broxtowe 56%

  • Derbyshire Dales 56%

  • Hinckley and Bosworth 56%

  • Lichfield 56%

  • Melton 56%

  • Solihull 56%

  • Wyre Forest 56%

  • Blaby 52%

  • Coventry 52%

  • Harborough 52%

  • Oadby and Wigston 52%

  • Staffordshire Moorlands 52%

  • Redditch 52%

  • Stoke-on-Trent 52%

  • Amber Valley 48%

  • Erewash 48%

  • Malvern Hills 48%

  • Rushcliffe 48%

  • Tamworth 48%

  • Walsall 48%

  • Dudley 44%

Derby City Council House Credit: PA

Nationwide, Wiltshire council scored the highest at 92%.

Spelthorne in Surrey, Ribble Valley and Pendle, both in Lancashire, came joint bottom - all scoring just 40%.

Friends of the Earth chief executive Craig Bennett said even the best-performing councils needed to ramp up their efforts.

“We know we are facing a climate and ecological emergency that threatens our existence and the natural world. If we want to change things for the better, let's start at home,” he said.

“Doing things right now about climate change isn’t just good news for future generations and people most vulnerable to an erratic climate, it’s good for everyone.

“Creating cleaner and greener places to live means healthier, happier lives. It’s why local authorities need to take the lead by adopting ambitious local climate action plans, and who better to help them than communities.”

Extinction Rebellion held up traffic heading into Birmingham City Centre. Credit: ITV News Central

There have been protests across the Midlands as concern over the climate crisis amplifies, including one which took place in rush hour in Birmingham by campaign group Extinction Rebellion, who held up traffic heading into the city centre in August.

Environment chief at Stafford Borough Council, Cllr Jonathan Price, said the authority knew there was more work to do.

"I am very pleased this report recognises us as one of the best in the Midlands in taking action on the global issue of climate change,” he said.

"We announced a climate emergency recently, but words are easy and we are focused on actions which is why we are making sure we have a realistic and proactive strategy for reducing carbon emissions as well as tackling other issues that are detrimental to our environment.

"Even though Friends of the Earth has said our performance on climate change is better than most compared to other local authority areas we know there is more to do and we will take practical measures where we can, rather than make empty promises, to work towards improving that performance."

The methodology used by Friends of the Earth is available here.