Sacramento County Celebrates Earth Day 2024

​​Monday, April 22 is the 54th anniversary of Earth Day, a day to reflect on the need to protect our natural environment.

To celebrate Earth Day - and to demonstrate our commitment to a cleaner, greener Sacramento County - we are exhibiting at the largest Earth Day Event in the Sacramento Region, the Environmental Council of Sacramento's (ECOS) Sacramento Earth Day festival!

When: Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: Southside Park (700 T St, Sacramento, CA)

Who: The following County offices/departments will have tables at this event:

• Animal Care Services
  
• Business Environmental Resource Center​
• Environmental Management Department
• Personnel Services
• Public Health
• Sustainability Office
• Voter Registration and Elections
• Waste Management and Recycling​
• Water Resources, Stormwater Quality
  

Can't make it to the Earth Day event? Check out the newest episode of County Conversations: SacCounty Podcast, featuring Sustainability Manager, John Lundgren, where we discuss the community-wide sustainability measures the County has implemented, the challenges the County has faced in its efforts to become more environmentally friendly, and what listeners can do to support a greener environment.

In addition to the SacCounty Podcast, you can also read about some of the ways Sacramento County is investing in our planet below:

Airports

Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. In 2017, SMF launched a solar facility that provides approximately 38% of the airport's energy and when constructed, was the largest on-airport solar facility in California. The facility generates nearly 15,500,000 kilowatt-hours per year, equivalent to the carbon reduction of removing nearly 2,500 cars from the road, not consuming 26,707 barrels of oil, or not burning 12,620,748 pounds of coal.

In addition to the solar farm, SMF has implemented several other sustainability initiatives. The airport's energy-efficient LED lights and low-flow toilets save significant amounts of energy and water, respectively. SMF's grass is also mowed at 4 inches instead of the standard 2-3 inches, making water usage more efficient.

So, next time you travel to SMF, know that you're doing your part to protect the environment by flying green and using the airport's sustainable amenities.

Community Development

The Planning and Environmental Review (PER) Division of the Department of Community Development has been focused on climate change since 2011 when they began work on the first phase of the County's Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP is the County's plan to reduce its contribution to climate change while addressing the impact climate change has already had on the area. To learn more about the CAP, visit the County's Climate Action Plan webpage.

General Services

• Green Fleet - General Services continues to convert as many vehicles as possible to renewable fuels and advanced battery technology options. Approximately 30% of the light-duty fleet is alternatively fueled (e.g., gas/electric hybrid, full electric and hydrogen). The light duty fleet operates 682 hybrid vehicles and has budgeted during the 22-23 fiscal year to phase in the replacements of 97 gasoline-powered vehicles with battery electric vehicles as they become available and charging infrastructure is installed at county facilities.
• General Services is also currently partnering with SMUD for free-of-charge fleet advisory services to deliver a comprehensive fleet electrification assessment with recommendations to transition the County's fleet to Zero-Emission Vehicles by 2035. The report will cover the County's entire fleet of vehicles with recommendations for the Branch Center Campus Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure required to support the transition.
• Green Building Facilities - Green building facilities are an integral solution that creates a pathway toward carbon neutrality. General Services is developing a Green Building Policy intended to align with the County Climate Action Plan targets and deliver multiple benefits, including:
• • Lower operating costs and increased asset value
  • Reduced waste sent to landfills
  • Decreased energy and water usage
  • Increased productivity and a healthier indoor environment for occupants
  • Fewer greenhouse gas emissions

Environmental Management Department (EMD)

Redistribution of Edible Food - Edible food recovery is a process by which edible food that would otherwise be discarded is redistributed to feed people in need. This is the highest and best use for food that would otherwise go to waste. As of 2022, CalRecycle regulations require certain business sectors to divert food from landfills and donate to food recovery organizations. EMD's Environmental Health Division performs food safety inspections at retail food businesses to protect health, prevent disease and promote health for all persons in Sacramento County.

Single-Use Utensil Education - Most households have a drawer brimming with unused plastic utensils, plastic straws, and condiments. Often, restaurants automatically add these items to takeout and delivery food orders, even though the items may be unwanted. These items eventually make their way into waterways, harming fish and wildlife, or to landfills where they may never decompose. In January 2022, Governor Newsom signed legislation that single-use food utensils items are given to consumers only upon request. EMD provides information and outreach to restaurants to keep them informed of the law and its requirements.

• Sacramento County Abandoned Well Program - Sacramento County relies on groundwater to supply half of its water needs. Water runoff that flows into abandoned wells can carry bacteria, sediment, fertilizer, pesticides and other pollutants directly into our groundwater. Abandoned wells are also a safety hazard - some abandoned wells are as small as 8 inches wide and can cause injury or death to children and animals who might fall into them. Open-pit wells and large-diameter drilled wells are particularly hazardous and are often hundreds of feet deep. EMD has a dedicated team that identifies abandoned wells throughout the County and works with property owners to properly close them.
• Toxic Site Cleanup Program - provides oversight of the assessment and remediation of properties on which there has been a release of hazardous materials to soil and/or groundwater. Most of the contaminated sites in this program have been impacted by petroleum releases from leaking underground storage tanks. Other regulated contaminants of concern include lead, chromium, dry cleaning solvents, industrial degreasing agents, and pesticides.
• The Sacramento Environmental Commission (SEC) provides environmental leadership, analysis and advice when called upon, to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Sacramento and Elk Grove; and serves as the advisory body for the Environmental Management Department (EMD). The SEC works with City and County agencies in an effort to bring forward environmental quality, conservation, public health and environmental protection, environmental justice and sustainability throughout the Sacramento region.
  
• EMD has committed to the strategic direction of implementing all technologies available to the Department to reduce paper use/consumption. These activities include:
• • Implementing cloud-based and GIS-enabled software that improves workflow efficiencies and enhances customer online access.
  • Encouraging the department to "reduce, reuse, recycle" to achieve CAP goals.
  • Enhancing paperless customer service transactions through technology with virtual access to operator permits and accounts.
  • Implementing fully paperless workflows and processes.

Sustainability

This past year, the Sacramento County Sustainability Manager, John Lundgren, has been working to keep residents and other stakeholders informed on how the County is doing on its 90 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and climate change adaption measures. Check out the new "Sustainability Dashboard​," which lists these measures and provides details, in a transparent and digestible fashion, whether the efforts for the measure have begun and some goals have been achieved; whether efforts for the measure have started; or if efforts for the measure have not started.

John has also been busy filling Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force member seats. The Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force is an advisory body with the overall mission of providing input, guidance, oversight, and assistance to the Board of Supervisors and Sustainability Manager in achieving the County's carbon neutrality goal and in preparing a Climate Emergency Response Plan.

The Sustainability office has also put together and released the 2021 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. The Inventory shows that Sacramento County has reduced GHG emissions in its governmental operations by 32 percent compared to 2015 levels.

Waste Management and Recycling​

The Department of Waste Management and Recycling (DWMR) works to be good stewards of our natural resources and environment on Earth Day and every day. By sorting smart, recycling right and keeping organics (food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings) out of landfills, you can be a good steward of the environment, too.

Based on a 2021 study, it's estimated that 40% of all waste that made its way to California landfills was food waste, yard trimmings and paper/cardboard. In compliance with California law, the organic material accepted in your curbside Organics cart that includes food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings is turned into beneficial compost and mulch. This change reduces methane production, a potent greenhouse gas, and extends landfill capacity. Composting is nature's way of recycling food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings, which transforms a previous waste stream into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

The simple act of keeping organics out of our landfills helps protect our environment, reduces garbage, puts carbon back into the soil where it builds healthy soil, and addresses a changing climate. Check out DWMR's Curbside Organics Collection webpage to learn more, and if you would like to try composting at home, visit the Backyard Composting webpage.

Also, for ideas on other ways you can be a good steward of our environment, visit the Resources, Learn at Home webpage. Additionally, download the free SacGreenTeam mobile app and use the "How Do I Get Rid Of…" tool to help you sort smart and recycle right. Let's all do our part for environmental stewardship and our community.

Here are a few examples of our SacGreenTeam employees who work hard to uphold stewardship of our environment:

• Every year, the North Area Recovery Station and Kiefer Landfill recycles tens of thousands of box springs and mattresses.
• Each year, sheep and goats graze 275 acres of vegetation at Kiefer Landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving taxpayer dollars.
• The energy plant at Kiefer Landfill uses renewable landfill gas to produce 65,000 megawatts of power each year, enough to power 10,000 homes daily.
• When available, DWMR repurposes old garbage carts into compost bins.
• Our SacGreenTeam also visits elementary schools with our collection trucks and attends community events and various Farmer's Markets to spread the word about recycling right, the importance of separating food scraps from garbage and the benefits of compost.

Water Resources

The Stormwater Quality Division has a host of green programs and information on their website, including those related to reducing the use of pesticides; grants for community groups and school projects that protect, restore or enhance our creeks and rivers; and river-friendly carwash practices.

The Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) has rebate programs to help people save water, including the cash for grass and high-efficiency clothes washer and high-efficiency toilet rebate programs. To learn more, visit the SCWA website.

​Voter Registration and Elections

The Department has made a conscious effort to Go Green by reducing paper consumption in the following ways:

• Printed a QR code linking to a newly developed interactive map of Vote Center and Official Ballot Drop Box locations in lieu of the flat printed map included in each ballot packet, thereby eliminating two million pages of printed material for each countywide election
  
• Replaced the distribution of flyers at community outreach events with QR codes to flyers and relevant information on our website Voter Education and Outreach Toolkit
  
• Encouraged voters to opt out of receiving a paper County Voter Information Guide (CVIG) and view their CVIG online instead beginning 29 days before an election. Voters may opt out of a paper CVIG through the Voter Action Form on My Voter Portal (MVP)
  
• Reduced overall page count of each printed CVIG by switching from bilingual guides to monolingual guides
• Discontinued the practice of ordering hundreds of CVIGs to be utilized by voters while voting in the VRE office - voters are instead presented with a QR code to scan and view the​ir electronic guides on their devices OR offered a composite CVIG binder (available in all four of our federally required languages) to view while marking their ballots ​​
  

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