Item B - Sustainability - Laserfiche WebLink

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Environment There are many environmental programs to use as examples of sustainable efforts in Eugene. The following represent some recent initiatives. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions - The City has been working in the last few months with a University of Oregon Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM) graduate course developing a regional baseline of greenhouse gas emissions. As part of establishing this baseline, we have provided 10 years of detailed data on energy consumption and solid waste production of City operations. This information quantifies the City's portion of the local greenhouse gas emissions. The successive phases of the UO effort include development of a model of green house gas impacts, evaluation of alternative ways to reduce GHG emissions, development ora plan for adapting to local consequences of climate change and ultimately a regional climate change plan. Solid Waste/Recycling - Beginning in January 2005, the City of Eugene's Solid Waste and Recycling Program implemented a pilot collection program for food discards. Approximately 1400 collection customers received instructions to recycle food scraps into their yard debris recycling bin. The year long study will evaluate the collection and processing costs and material preparation issues associated with a City-wide collection program for residential customers. Previous work by the program in the arena of food discard composting has led the Oregon DEQ to begin a process to re-write its compost facility permitting rules. A study completed in 2003 indicated that food waste is one of the largest components of the waste stream still being landfilled by Eugene generators. Generation of this waste is evenly split between commercial, residential, and multi-family sources. Throughout the City organization, staff is active in trade or advocacy associations that are working on state or national issues related to environmental sustainability. The Association of Oregon Recyclers is an Oregon trade association that is leading an effort to modernize Oregon's beverage container redemption system at the direction of the Chair of the organization, Alex Cuyler of the City of Eugene's Solid Waste and Recycling Program. West Eugene Wetlands - The West Eugene Wetlands Program recently won the prestigious Julian Award for Sustainability from the Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The partnership program manages land for several threatened and endangered species, including the Fenders blue butterfly, Kincaid's lupine, Willamette Valley Daisy, and Bradshaw's desert parsley. The partnership has successfully acquired nearly 3,000 acres including the recent acquisition of a key parcel connecting the Willow Creek nature preserve owned by The Nature Conservancy with Amazon Creek. The partnership is currently working on plans for an education center that will aspire to achieve a high level sustainable building design certification known as LEEDS (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design Standards). Green Fleet - The City's fleet continues to use environmentally friendly fuels such as (B-20) bio-diesel, which began last year. The blend contains 80% regular diesel fuel and 20% bio-diesel, a cleaner-burning alternative fuel. The City has been a partner in the Lane Clean Diesel project sponsored by the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority, the state Department of Environmental Quality and other local public and private entities. The guaranteed volume agreements have allowed the initiation of a bio-diesel production facility in Portland which will eventually lower the costs of this alternative fuel. This year's plan includes reducing emissions in diesel operated vehicles by installing retrofit emission control devices and by implementing other alternative fuels like ultra low sulfur diesel again in conjunction with the Lane Clean Diesel project. The sulfur content in ultra low sulfur diesel is less than 30 parts per million, which is significantly lower than the normal diesel fuel used today within the City's fleet. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the combined use of B-20, ultra low