Monterey Bay Area Green Business Program

Overview and Scope of Work:  The project is a joint effort of task force members and Ecology Action to implement an incentive based program that recognizes businesses that go “beyond compliance”.  What this means is that businesses meet all environmental compliance for their industry, and then achieve a certain level of additional environmental performance in the areas of resource conservation, waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, and pollution prevention.  Businesses that attain these goals will be certified as a Green Business and promoted to the public as such.  We have modeled the program after the Bay Area’s successful program, which will make implementation here more efficient, and keep the message consistent between us and our neighboring counties.

Target Audience(s):  Businesses and consumers.  Currently, due to the grant’s focus on oil recycling and pollution mitigation, we are focusing on Vehicle Service and Repair Industries.  Next step industries likely include restaurants, hospitality and landscapers.

Funder: California Integrated Waste Management Board, Non Profit Used Oil Grant (with quarts container recycling program)

Funding Level:  $80,000 staff plus $15,000 materials for green business portion.  Overall grant $264,000

Program Partners: Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, Cities of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Monterey, Air Board, agencies include solid waste, wastewater, storm water, water supply, environmental health, air quality

Timeline:  Current grant runs 2003-2005, Project will continue past grant timeline with agency support, Ecology Action may or may not be staffing the project then but can continue to sit on the Task Force.

Staff Members Working on Project: Kirsten Liske and Molly Ober are staffing the project; Jo Flemming (Board Member) is the County Coordinator for Santa Cruz.

Desired Behavior Changes:  We want businesses to achieve compliance with environmental regulations, implement beyond compliance measures, and continue to improve their environmental performance as they continue with the program.  We want consumers to frequent Certified Green Businesses knowing that the certification actually means something.

Desired Outcomes of Program:  With Vehicle Service and Repair facilities the high impact benefits we are looking for reductions in oily water, detergents and other pollutants to the storm drain and sewers.  We are looking for reduced air pollution as they switch away from petroleum solvents for parts washing.  We are looking for businesses to shift their thinking to include environmental performance as a part of doing business well (will we see cost savings associated with this?).  We are looking to improving how public agencies work together and within their Departments, simplifying their interactions with the business community.  We are looking to direct more public agency energy toward encouraging what is going well in the community versus focusing all their resources on problem businesses – ditto that for those agencies to encourage “beyond compliance.”

Results:  Results so far are that the agencies are working together well, and bridges are continuing to be built.  Dialogues have occurred addressing where agencies are odds with one another where the businesses get caught in the middle.  We have built relationships with Automotive Services Council Chapters in the region to bring credibility to our efforts.