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"Greening" the Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management

What does "Greening" mean?

Doing simple, practical things to make a positive difference in our environment.

The Department Green Team sets the framework for the City to inspire, inform and enable our communities to improve their quality of life and increase economic prosperity through environmental responsibility.

 

Department-Wide Initiatives

  • Working with ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives), we will be assessing the Department's Carbon Footprint with the goal of eventually becoming a carbon neutral.

  • Conducted research study on in-house recycling program to improve efficiency and eliminate contamination issues by working closely with janitorial staff..

  • In-house cardboard recycling program.

  • Worked in conjunction with the City's Building Maintenance Department to initiate the installation of motion-sensor lighting in common areas.

  • Worked with the Water Department to conduct a Sensible Sprinkling Irrigation Evaluation and a study of building water use. Potential areas where water savings could be realized were identified and the recommendations of the Irrigation Auditor are to be implemented followed by a rebate request.

  • TECO Energy Audit of the Administration Building conducted including an examination of AC settings to identify areas for energy savings.

  • Invited experts from Kessler Consulting to present to the Team on what has worked as far as "greening" in other cities such as Tallahassee.

 

Grants

  • Submitted 3 grant applications for the 2009-2010 funding cycle, to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) -- "The Quest for a Sustainable Government - Mapping a Carbon Footprint for Waste Reduction and Recycling", "Business as Usual for Special Events, Venues and Festivals - Greening Part II" and " Urban Recycling Plan for Multi-Family Property Managers", totaling almost $800,000.

  • 3 DEP Innovative Recycling Grants in progress -- looking at ways to increase participation, greening events and venues (the Forum, Gasparilla parades and races and Raymond James Stadium).

 

Waste-to-Energy Facility

  • Tampa is one of only 15 cities in FL that owns a Waste-To-Energy Facility.

  • Non-ferrous metals recovery to be implemented at McKay Bay to capture metals not currently recycled.

  • Sent out a Request For Information (RFI) for possible Yard-Waste-Ethanol Facility at McKay Bay.

 

Household Chemical & Electronics Collections

 

Recycling & Waste Reduction

  • Recent expansion of the curbside program adding more materials to the already-accepted list of items.

  • Expansion of commercial recycling program (60% increase in commercial accounts last fiscal year).

  • Expansion of the school recycling program.

Brownfields

  • The City has designated 19 Brownfield Areas, more than any other local government in the State. These designations offer incentives to cleanup environmentally impacted urban properties and reduce urban sprawl (Item C.2. on the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement).

 

Historic Landfill Assessment

 

Information Resources

  • "Curbside Recycling" brochure providing information on curbside recycling in the City as well as explaining the importance of waste reduction and recycling.

  • "Guide to Clean Neighborhoods" brochure which gives citizens information on proper residential disposal methods for various wastes.

 

Education & Outreach

  • The Department participates in numerous educational and environmental events throughout the year including the Earth Force Youth Summit, The Hillsborough River Clean Up, Earth Day, Lowry Park Zoo Conservation Day, and the Florida Aquarium America Recycles Day activities, to name just a few...

  • Designed and implemented the America Recycles Day T-Shirt and Poetry Design Contest for Hillsborough County School students in grades 3-8 through a partnership with the Hillsborough County School District.