The scheme was launched at Musselburgh Grammar School on Wednesday 15^th February, with award presentations to inaugural members which included DHL/NISA, Eagle Couriers, East Coast Buses, Eve Coaches, LAMH Recycle Limited, Menzies Distribution, Mullholland Contracts, Prentice Coaches, 7Plus7, Viridor, and W Munro.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, Cabinet Member for Environment and Housing, East Lothian Council, welcomed members and officials to the launch and said,

“East Lothian Council has a statutory duty to monitor local air quality against specific Air Quality Objectives for a number of pollutants, many of which can be attributed to Road Traffic sources.

As a consequence, the council is obliged to prepare an Air Quality Action Plan which outlines the measures the council intends to take to reduce pollutant concentrations to within objective levels. One of the fundamental measures contained within the action plan is the adoption of the ECO Stars scheme in East Lothian.

Not only is it hoped that participation in the scheme will raise awareness amongst fleet operators of impacts of vehicle emissions upon the environment and human health, the scheme will encourage and help fleet operators to run their vehicles in the most efficient and green way”