Staff Reports - East Bay Municipal Utility District

SUSTAINABILITY/RECYCLING COMMITTEE
ANNUAL REPORT - 2012
Committee Purpose
The purpose of the Sustainability/Recycling Committee is to foster sustainable projects, educate
employees about sustainable practices, and assist District work groups to develop and expand
their Reduction, Recycling, Reuse, and Reclamation (RRRR) efforts. Such RRRR efforts
exemplify the District's approach toward promoting the District's sustainability policy and
supporting its mission "... to preserve and protect the environment for future generations". This
committee is an integral part of the District's strategic plan for Water Quality and Environmental
Protection goals by promoting reduction of pollutants at the source and implementing waste
reduction, recycling, reuse, and reclamation programs. The Committee's and the District's
RRRR efforts have also been important in assisting Bay Area cities and counties to achieve statemandated
reductions in the quantities of solid wastes disposed within landfills.
Several Sustainability/Recycling Committee meetings were held during 2012 to plan and execute
Earth Day Fair's week-long activities April 23-27, and to plan and execute the District-wide
Clean Up week July 16-20. The Sustainability/Recycling Committee's efforts continued to
address the District's goals by emphasizing to District employees that their resource conservation
and waste reduction efforts are important and by providing continuing education concerning
sustainable practices that all employees can apply at work and home.
2012 Accomplishments
• Committee members continued to implement the new composting program and updated
recycling program at the Administration Building, Adeline Maintenance Center campus
and the Main Wastewater Treatment Plant. Green compost and blue recycling cans were
added in the break rooms and other strategic areas throughout each of the facilities.
Currently, waste diversion from landfill to compost and recycling is 65% at the
Administration Building. With continued staff education, the Committee anticipates that
this number could increase further.
• The Committee planned and held its 13 th Annual Earth Day Event on April 26, 2012 and
sent out educational quizzes and information to staff the week of April 23-27. Exhibitors
at this well-attended event included 5 District workgroups and 15 non-District
organizations. Many positive comments were received from District staff and
participants.
• The Committee planned and held the District-wide Clean-up Event on July 16-20. The
goals of this event were to do the following:
- Implement the new Records Retention Schedule
- Delete unnecessary emails and electronic files
- Purge office papers and files by recycling