Goal:
Promote a Sustainable Environment
STRATEGIC STATEMENT: Preserve the health of our natural resources and our drinking water through the
widespread use of sustainable and environmental management practices, effective storm water management
and the enhancement and rehabilitation of lakes, wetlands and other fragile ecological systems.
Strategy: Utilize green products, implement renewable
energy technologies and incorporate green practices in
the delivery of County programs and servic es where cost
effective.
Action A: Modify County purchasing policies and practices to
request, where applicable, green alternatives for products and
services.
Action B: Collect and share information about contractors and
vendors that use or offer energy efficient, reused or recycled
content products and materials, as well as those vendors who use
green operational practices.
Action C: Change purchasing documentation to require vendors to
report green practices (when tracked) and use that information to
evaluate opportunities to be more sustainable in current and future
procurements.
Action D: Draft, adopt, and implement policies and ordinances that
support wind, solar, and geothermal energy facilities County-wide
to encourage renewable energy technologies in appropriate
locations.
Proposed Action E: Review County policies and practices consider
sustainability along with business factors and where appropriate
implement more sustainable alternatives.
Strategy: Provide community outreach about best
management and sustainable practices for our natural
resources.
Action A: Partner with other governments, businesses, and other
stakeholders to share information and provide cross training on
green and sustainable best management practices.
Action B: Develop joint education campaigns through the Lake
County Green Partnership to provide residents, businesses and
other stakeholders with education on opportunities to advance
sustainability in their day-to-day life and operations.
Strategy: Implement long-term solutions for increasing
waste diversion through recycling and composting,
reducing the toxicity of our waste, and developing a
long-term disposal option that has a positive impact on
energy usage, reducing key pollutants and greenhouse
gases.
Action A: Implement the recommendations from the 60% recycling
taskforce.
Action B: Work with SWALCO, municipalities, and other
stakeholders to implement measures to reduce total waste, increase
waste diversion from the landfills, and encourage composting and
recycling.
Action C: Promote sustainable waste management practices, and
identify and develop solutions to eliminate or mitigate barriers to
waste diversion and recycling within County facilities.
The Lake County Board has a goal to
divert 60% of the waste stream away
from landfills by 2030. The board
recently approved changes to the
Solid Waste and Recycling Ordinance
incorporating specific
recommendations toward achieving
this goal. Lake County residents have
access to single-stream recycling,
which means no sorting of recyclables
is necessary. Everything can be placed
in the same container with no
guessing games. For a list of what can
and cannot be recycled in Lake
County, visit
www.RecycleFirstTrashLast.org.