El Cerrito's Environmental Services Division

Starting in July 2008, the City has a new Environmental Services Division that will serve as a clear point of contact for the community regarding environmental concerns. The new Division combines the City's long-standing commitment to environmental protection and a concern for sustainability and climate change.

The City's environmental work will focus on the following ten programs areas, which are managed by the new Environmental Services Division, as well as other City Departments and Divisions:

Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Water and Wastewater Systems, Green Building, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Climate-Friendly Purchasing, Renewable Energy and Low-Carbon Fuels, Efficient Transportation, Land Use and Community Design, Storing and Offsetting Carbon Emissions, and Promoting Community and Individual Action.

Below are short descriptions of the City's programs and activities as well as links to additional information and resources.

Jump to:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Green Business
City of El Cerrito Policies
Creeks
Climate Change
Events & Activities
Bicycles & Pedestrians
Clean Water
Green Building
Things You Can Do
Contact Information

Note: The City of El Cerrito website includes links to other websites that are not endorsed by the City. The City of El Cerrito is not responsible for content or accuracy of information found on website links to other websites, nor does the City endorse any content or products that may be promoted on those other websites.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

www.ecrecycling.org

The City of El Cerrito's recycling website includes news and information about the City's curbside recycling collection, the drop-off El Cerrito Recycling Center, other local recycling and reuse options, and waste prevention.

New Recycling Center Project Update
Plans to re-build the Recycling Center are underway!

Green Business:

www.greenbiz.ca.gov
The Green Business program website helps you to "shop green" with a directory of businesses in the Bay Area that operate in an environmentally sound manner.
Businesses can also find out how to receive assistance in becoming more environmentally friendly.

http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/enviro/gbus/AboutUsCCC.html
Learn about the Contra Costa County Green Business Program, and read the most current issue of their periodic newsletter, "Staying Green!"

http://pge.com/pec
The Pacific Energy Center offers free educational programs, design tools, advice, and support to create energy efficient buildings and comfortable indoor environments, mostly regarding commercial buildings, also includes advice and information for residential buildings.

El Cerrito Council Policies:

City Council Resolution 2006-20: Internal Environmentally Preferable Procurement Policy (63Kb)
City Council Resolution 2006-61: U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (230Kb)
City Council Resolution 2006-93: Endorsing California's Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets (62Kb)
City Council Resolution 2008-3: Bay-Friendly Landscaping & Gardening Seven Principles Declaration (79Kb)
City Council Resolution 2008-23: Supporting Producer Responsibility and Product Stewardship (1053Kb)

Creeks:

The City of El Cerrito has many miles of above-ground creeks within three watersheds: Baxter, Cerrito and an unnamed watershed. Visit ../public_works/creeks.html for more information about creeks.

Climate Change:

www.iclei-usa.org

In order to reduce its impact on the environment and take action on the issue of climate change, the City of El Cerrito has partnered with ICLEI - Cities for Climate Protection (www.iclei-usa.org). In the coming months and years, El Cerrito will work to achieve ICLEI's five milestones of climate protection, and decrease its environmental footprint.

Events & Activities: Recycle Your Electronics - Sat. & Sun. Sept. 6 & 7 Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 6 & 7 - 9 am to 3 pm. Location: El Cerrito Department of Motor Vehicles at 6400 Manila Avenue E-waste accepted: computer monitors, computers/computer components, televisions, VCR & DVD players, toner cartridges, printers, fax machines, copiers, telephone equipment, cell phones, MP3 players. FREE to all residents and businesses, no residency restrictions, no appointment needed. UNACCEPTABLE: NO appliances, batteries, microwaves, paints, pesticides, etc. Please take these items to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility at 101 Pittsburg Avenue in Richmond. For HHW facility information, call 1-888-412-9277. The HHW facility will be open Sept. 6. E-waste Event Questions? www.unwaste.com or 1-888-832-9839 El Cerrito Citywide Garage Sale - Saturday, Oct. 11 >2008 Citywide Garage Sale Registration Form (94Kb) Carry on city tradition - register for the 19th Annual Citywide Garage Sale! Registration forms are due to the El Cerrito Community Center by Mon. Sept. 29 at 4 pm. Reusing items bought and sold at garage sales saves them from the landfill and reduces greenhouse emissions produced by making new products. This year, Albany will be hosting a citywide garage sale on the same day! If you are a resident of Albany and want to register to host a garage sale, please visit www.albanyca.org Home Improvement Expo - Saturday, Oct. 11, Featuring Green Workshops & Booths! Date: Saturday, October 11 - 10am - 2:30pm Location: El Cerrito Community Center at 7007 Moeser Lane Come ask experts your home improvement questions, including how to do "green" remodeling. There will also be panel sessions on such topics as Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling, Obtaining City Permits and Approvals, Going Green, and much more. Native Gardening & Composting Workshop - Saturday Oct. 25 Date: Saturday, October 25 - 10am - 12:30pm Location: El Cerrito Senior Center at 6500 Stockton Avenue Free! Learn how to reduce waste by composting food scraps and yard cuttings, and learn how to reduce your water use with native-plants and other drought-tolerant species. You will also receive a free Bay Friendly Gardening Guide. To register or for more information, please call (510) 215-3021. City Seeks Volunteers to Help with Native Plant Gardens Do you have experience or interest in native gardens, integrated pest management, water conservation, or composting? The City of El Cerrito Public Works Department is considering applying for grants to plant fragrant and colorful native gardens to demonstrate Bay Friendly gardening techniques like integrated pest management, water conservation, and composting in selected public locations within El Cerrito. If you have expertise maintaining this type of garden and are interested in volunteering your time to maintain them once planted, we want to hear from you. Please contact the Maintenance Division at (510) 215-4369 or email Laurenteen Brazil at lbrazil@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us Thank you for your interest. Earth Day - Get involved! El Cerrito's annual environmental beautification event is held each April. This year's event was on Saturday, April 26, 2008. More than 200 El Cerrito Residents turned out in force, working at 25 sites throughout the City, to make the community a better place to live on Earth Day 2008. See photos from 2007 Earth Day in the Earth Day 2007 Slide Show.

Bicycles & Pedestrians:

The City is committed to providing a healthy, walkable, bikeable community and a transportation environment that supports the selection of non-motorized transportation options-such as biking and walking- and the use of public transportation. Visit ../public_works/BikePed.html for more information.

Clean Water:

The City's Clean Water Program is responsible for making sure the City in compliance with the provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act, the State Porter-Cologne Act and the provisions of its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. To implement and coordinate its Clean Water activities, the City is a member of the Contra Costa Clean Water Program. Learn more about the Contra Costa Clean Water Program at http://www.cccleanwater.org

Check back soon for more information about the City's Clean Water activities.

http://www.stopwaste.org

The Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guidelines from StopWaste.Org. StopWaste.Org is the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board operating as one public agency.

Green Building:

../planning/greenbuilding.html

The City of El Cerrito's Planning Division's webpage includes information on green buildings, which are designed to be affordable, preserve the health of building occupants, conserve natural resources, and reduce both energy and transportation costs. The City of El Cerrito encourages all owners and builders to consider Green Building in their projects.

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/recycle/greenbuilding.htm

Contra Costa County's webpage on Green Building, a "Whole-Systems" approach for designing and constructing buildings that conserve energy, water, and material resources and are healthier, safer, and more comfortable.

http://www.builditgreen.org/index.cfm

Build It Green is a local professional non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy and resource-efficient buildings in California. Located in Berkeley, BIG offers free consultations on green building practices to homeowners pursuing additions and renovations through their `Ask An Expert` hotline (888-40-GREEN) as well as in-person meetings.

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ConDemo/

Information from the State of California about recycling construction and demolition (C&D) materials.

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19

LEED Buildings: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

Things You Can Do:

Residents and businesses reduce their own environmental impacts in a number of ways. Check out the City of El Cerrito's Environmental Action Guide for ideas!
Calculate your own environmental footprint at coolclimate.berkeley.edu
ADOPT-A-PARK: The City encourages individual residents, neighbors, community organizations and businesses to become directly involved in improving our city parks and other landscaped areas through the Adopt-A-Park Program. Learn more about how you can participate in the City of El Cerrito's Adopt-a-Park program at ../recreation/adoptapark.htm


Website Disclaimer Statement: All information on the City of El Cerrito website was valid at the time of posting. The City reserves the right to make any changes at any time and without notice. The City is not liable for damages incurred directly or indirectly as a result of errors or omissions on the City of El Cerrito website.

The City of El Cerrito website includes links to other websites that are not endorsed by the City. The City is not responsible for content or accuracy of information found on City of El Cerrito website links to other websites, nor does the City of El Cerrito endorse any content or products that may be promoted on those other websites.




Thanks for your interest in the City's Environmental Services Division. To learn more about the City's environmental programs, please contact the Division at (510) 215-4351 or green@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.