Friday, April 22 is the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day, a day to reflect on the need to protect our natural environment. This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest in our Planet,” and Sacramento County has many departmental programs and initiatives that do just that!
Here are a few of the many great examples of Sacramento County investing in our planet:
Community Development
The Planning and Environmental Review (PER) Division of the Department of Community Development has been focused on climate change since 2011, when they began work on the first phase of the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP is the County’s plan to reduce its contribution to climate change while addressing the impact climate change has already had on the area.
Sustainability
Sacramento County has added a Sustainability Manager position to develop and oversee a wide variety of climate and sustainability programs and initiatives. One of the Sustainability Manager’s primary responsibilities will be implementing many of the County’s Climate Action Plan policies once approved by the Board of Supervisors. Currently, the Sustainability Manager is focused on finding community members to fill the
Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force, an advisory body with the overall mission of providing input, guidance, oversight and assistance to the Sustainability Manager.
Waste Management and Recycling
The Department of Waste Management and Recycling (DWMR) works to be good stewards of our natural resources and environment on Earth Day and every day. By recycling right and learning about backyard composting, you can be a good steward of the environment, too.
Compost makes healthy soil, healthy soil makes healthy water and air, which makes healthier food and environment. Check out
DWMR’s Backyard Composting webpage to get you started and then don’t miss the next Compost and Climate webinar on May 4, as well as Open Garden on May 14, at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, where residents who receive County curbside recycling/garbage service are eligible to receive a free GeoBin compost bin per household. Go to
www.SacGreenTeam.com for upcoming composting event details.
Also, visit our
Education Resources Learn at Home webpage for ideas on other ways you can be a good steward of our environment. On that page, check out the free SacGreenTeam app and use the “how do I get rid of …” search tool to help you sort smart and recycle right. Let’s all do our part for environmental stewardship and our community.
Here are a few examples of our SacGreenTeam employees who work hard to uphold stewardship of our environment:
- Every year, the North Area Recovery Station and Kiefer Landfill recycles tens of thousands of box springs and mattresses.
- Each year, sheep and goats graze 275 acres of vegetation at Kiefer Landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving taxpayer dollars.
- The energy plant at Kiefer Landfill uses renewable landfill gas to produce 65,000 megawatts of power each year, enough to power 10,000 homes daily.
- DWMR adds more native trees at Kiefer Landfill and has partnered with the Sacramento Tree Foundation to plant 10 acres of these native trees to enhance wildlife habitat restoration, and visually screen landfill operations.
- DWMR even recycles broken curbside carts that are no longer useable where they are sent to make them into new carts.
- Our SacGreenTeam also visits elementary schools with our collection trucks and attend various Farmer’s Markets to spread the word about recycling right and the benefits of composting.
Airports
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) launched a
solar farm in 2017. Since its launch,
the solar facility has provided approximately 38% of the airports energy and is the largest on-airport solar facility in California. The facility generates nearly 15,500,000 kilowatt-hours per year, which equates to 11,535 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent. The clean energy generated annually has the carbon reduction equivalent of removing nearly 2,500 cars from the road, not consuming 26,707 barrels of oil, or not burning 12,620,748 pounds of coal.
In 2021, SMF received $4.6 million from the FAA to buy
zero-emissions passenger shuttle buses and associated charging equipment. SMF currently has 10 zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) electric passenger shuttle buses in operation and is expecting delivery of eight more electric buses this summer. Over the next several years, the entire fleet (25 buses) of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles will be converted to ZEV.
Department of Transportation
Short Range Transit and Zero-Emission Bus Plan - Sacramento County Department of Transportation (DOT) is undertaking a Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) for South County and East County Transit and developing a Zero-Emission Bus rollout plan for South County. Through the development of the SRTP, the planning team will be taking a look at the current and anticipated travel needs of residents who take transit in and around South and East Sacramento County. To learn more,
visit the DOT website.
Active Transportation Plan - Sacramento County is working to create and maintain an integrated system of bikeways and walkways that are direct, safe and convenient to use for work, school, errands and recreation. The County recognizes the need to encourage and promote bicycling and walking as a viable, attractive, non-polluting form of transportation that improves physical fitness and community well-being. After a series of community meetings to learn what residents thought would improve and increase non-vehicular transportation, the 2022 Active Transportation Plan is the guiding document for achieving this goal.
Bicycle Advisory Committee - The purpose of this Sacramento County Bicycle Advisory Committee (SacBAC) is to serve as an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors and on matters relating to overseeing the implementation of the Sacramento County Bicycle Master Plan. SacBAC has one open position. Interested in learning more,
visit the SacBAC website.
Department of Water Resources
The
Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) has rebate programs to help people save water, including the cash for grass and high-efficiency clothes washer and high-efficiency toilet rebate programs. To learn more,
visit the SCWA website.
Environmental Management
Organic Waste Diversion – It’s estimated that 50% of waste making its way to California landfills is organic and can be recycled. By diverting this waste, greenhouse gases are reduced and the recycled organic material is used locally in regenerative practices.
EMD’s Solid Waste Team assisted Sacramento County’s Department of Waste Management and Recycling to provide education and outreach to businesses and residents about the new requirement to divert organic waste.
Redistribution of Edible Food - Edible food recovery is a process by which edible food that would otherwise be discarded is redistributed to feed people in need. This is the highest and best use for food that would otherwise go to waste. Beginning January 1, 2022, new CalRecycle regulations require certain business sectors to divert food from landfills and donate to food recovery organizations. EMD’s Environmental Health Division performs food safety inspections at retail food businesses to protect health, prevent disease and promote health for all persons in Sacramento County.
Single-Use Utensil Education - Most households have a drawer brimming with unused plastic utensils, plastic straws, and condiments. Often, restaurants automatically add these items to takeout and delivery food orders, even though the items may be unwanted. These items eventually make their way into waterways, harming fish and wildlife, or to landfills where they may never decompose. In January 2022, Governor Newsom signed legislation that single-use food utensils items are given to consumers only upon request. EMD provides information and outreach to restaurants to keep them informed of the law and its requirements.
Sacramento County Abandoned Well Program - Sacramento County relies on groundwater to supply half of its water needs. Water runoff that flows into abandoned wells can carry bacteria, sediment, fertilizer, pesticides and other pollutants directly into our groundwater. Abandoned wells are also a safety hazard - some abandoned wells are as small as 8 inches wide and can cause injury or death to children and animals who might fall into them. Open-pit wells and large-diameter drilled wells are particularly hazardous and are often hundreds of feet deep.
EMD has a dedicated team that identifies abandoned wells throughout the county and works with property owners to properly close them.
The Sacramento Environmental Commission (SEC) provides environmental leadership, analysis and advice when called upon, to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Sacramento and Elk Grove; and serves as the advisory body for the
Environmental Management Department (EMD). The SEC works with City and County agencies in an effort to bring forward environmental quality, conservation, public health and environmental protection, environmental justice and sustainability throughout the Sacramento region.
General Services
The
Department of General Services (DGS) has been converting lights in county buildings to LED, resulting in a significant decrease in electricity usage. So far, DGS has retrofitted more than 1,300 lights including 9,000 square feet of interior office lights with LEDs. This transition resulted in a savings of more than one million kWh annually - which is equivalent to powering 138 homes for an entire year - and about
187 fewer metric tons of carbon emissions released into the air!
To support the County Climate Action Plan, DGS is formulating plans to achieve carbon-neutrality in County-owned facilities and optimize energy efficiencies. One significant potential project includes building a central heating and cooling plant for Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center. The Central Plant will utilize the latest building electrification technologies, and avoid carbon emissions from natural gas use. The central plant will be supported with new solar infrastructure to help offset electricity used by equipment and may utilize battery and thermal storage on-site to further reduce energy costs by eliminating chilled water production during peak cost times.