El Cerrito's Environmental Stewardship

The City of El Cerrito is committed to environmental stewardship. In both its own activities, and by supporting the City's residents and businesses, the City has programs to protect, preserve and enhance the environment.

This webpage was created to assist El Cerrito residents, businesses and organizations in being a caretaker for our shared natural resources and reducing their environmental impacts beyond regulatory requirements. Check back soon for more information and ways you can help the environment.

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
Sustainability and Smart Growth
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 Division 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.

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:

Check back here soon for information on City resolutions such as 2006-61, 2006-93, fee waiver for Solar Permits, etc.

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.

Sustainability and Smart Growth:

www.iclei.org

Climate Change - In order to reduce its impact on the environment and issues like climate change, the City of El Cerrito has partnered with ICLEI - Cities for Climate Protection (www.iclei.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: Bike to Work Day - Thursday, May 15, 2008 Try to BART, bike, bus, or walk to work on Thursday, May 15. Using your car just one day less a week can make a significant environmental impact. If you do participate in Bike to Work Day, stop by the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station from 7-9 am for snacks and goodies that should encourage you on your car-less commute. For more information, visit www.511contracosta.org/bicycle Recycle Your Electronics - Sat. & Sun. June 7 & 8, 2008 Date: Saturday & Sunday, June 7 & 8, 2008- 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 June 7. E-waste Event Questions? www.unwaste.com or 1-888-832-9839 East Bay Green Home Tour - Sunday, June 1, 2008 Tour 17 green-built and remodeled homes in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, and learn how you can green your own home whatever your budget or taste. For more information, visit www.builditgreen.org El Cerrito Citywide Garage Sale - Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 Every year, over a hundred homes in El Cerrito host garage sales to promote "reuse" - the second "R" in "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle." Check back later for more details on how to register for and/or shop the garage sale. 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 can work to reduce their own environmental impacts in a number of ways. Check back soon for the "things you can do" page for ideas and tips, as well as submit your ideas.

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 environmental stewardship. For more information, read the Spring-Summer 2008 Environmental Action Guide (PDF, 1239Kb). To learn more about the City's environmental programs, please contact: (510) 215-4351 or recycle@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.

If you have questions about this website, please contact Suzanne Iarla, Public Information Specialist at (510) 215-4318 or siarla@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.