Culver City is going “zero waste” at City Hall. On Earth Day in April, the city launched the “City Hall Zero Waste Program,” a three-phase initiative to the city’s ongoing pursuit to create a healthier, resilient and more sustainable community to live, work and do business in.
The governing body of Culver City, a five-square-mile, urban community of 39,000 residents, has reduced the trash it produces by approximately 30 percent per week, since the launch of the “City Hall Zero Waste Program.”
“My parents taught me to lead by example, and that’s exactly what Culver City is doing by making City Hall zero-waste. We can all be leaders in tackling pollution, helping the environment and saving money by eliminating the single-use items that are sent to landfills,” said Culver City Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells.
A “Green Team” composed of city staff has led the effort by continuously educating staff, answering their questions and tracking City Hall happenings to ensure they stay on track.
During the first phase, staff learned what it means to have zero waste, the importance of eliminating waste and steps they can take to contribute to the zero waste goal. The Green Team also facilitated janitorial training and provided new desk-side recycling and organics waste containers.
Additionally, containers for landfill, recycling, and organics were installed in the kitchenettes and conference rooms, and a new dishwasher was installed in the City Council’s Closed Session Room. Reusable dishware is also available now for staff to use instead of disposable wares. Lastly, the Green Team drafted an “Environmental Purchasing Policy,” evaluated staff efforts and hosted a “Lunch and Learn” workshop for staff to ask questions and learn more about the program.
