Environment
Encourages conservation and support of the natural world and natural resources including: air quality
and the management of solid waste and water resources.
Sustainable and Green Procurement Policy
The city implemented a Sustainable and Green Procurement Policy
to encourage the purchase and use of goods and services that best align with the city’s fiscal, environmental,
social equity, economic growth, and community enhancement goals. The policy encourages the purchase of
environmentally preferable products that reduce the overall negative impact on the environment. To this end,
the policy promotes the purchasing of recycled materials and other environmentally preferable goods and services
that protect human resources, prevent pollution, reduce waste, conserve resources, and support environmental
sustainability.
Green Events Team
The city developed the Green Events Team to work with special event promoters in the city to encourage
event organizers, sponsors and attendees within the city of Richmond to be as “green” as possible through educational
awareness, enhanced solid waste reduction efforts and decreasing the overall environmental impacts of events.
With generous support from Keep Virginia Beautiful and the Clean City Commission, the Green Events Team purchased
100 recycling bins for any event promoter in the city to use during special events.
Recycling in City Hall
The Department of Public Works manages a recycling program for employees in city hall. Each floor of
city hall has recycling bins for mixed paper and co-mingled recyclable items and the bins are emptied weekly.
Other city facilities including Main Street Station, Marshall Plaza and police headquarters also recycle.
Computer Recycling
The Department of Information Technology conducts a PC recycling program to refurbish and reuse
older computers, reduce electronic waste and reduce costs.
Record Management & Maintenance System
The Department of Public Works created a records management system that controls the creation,
maintenance, use and disposition of records and transactions in digital form. It reduces paper, employee
travel time and other resources.
Recycled Paper
The city purchases 30 percent post-consumer recycled content paper for everyday office paper use.
Paper and Toner Conservation
City departments have implemented steps to reduce paper and toner use including default black
and white setting, double-sided printing and email signatures to “think green” and not print unless necessary.
Low Impact Development (LID)
LID is a land development approach that allows land to be developed but in a manner that helps
lessen potential environmental impacts. The city has a number of pilot LID projects in place including green
alleys and green streets. Rain gardens help filter sediment that can harm the water supply and they retain
water during heavy rain periods to prevent runoff. The city has built a number of rain gardens and plans to
build more.
Green Roofs
The city built its first green roof on a city facility on the Waste Water Treatment
Plant Effluent Filtration Building in 2010. The city will install another green roof in 2012.
Stormwater Utility and Credit Program
In July 2009, the Department of Public Utilities created a
Stormwater Utility to manage the
stormwater that runs off the properties of city residents and business owners. The utility encourages green
practices by offering both commercial and residential credits
to customers that choose to implement these practices on their property.
Department of Public Utilities WaterSense Partner
DPU is a proud WaterSense partner.
WaterSense brings together a variety of stakeholders to promote the value of water efficiency, decrease water
use and reduce strain on water resources and infrastructure. By utilizing the WaterSense program through
public outreach, rebates, education, and other conservation efforts, the city can reduce the amount of
electricity needed to clean wastewater and treat drinking water.
DPU Water Conservation Programs
In 2008, DPU implemented a cost of service rate structure to promote water conservation.
DPU is currently upgrading infrastructure to improve water conservation at its treatment facilities.
