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Doing Your Part

What’s the best way to recycle, reduce consumption, support renewable energy, and control pests without poison? It all starts with you.


Take a Fun First Step: Attend the 2009 Earth Day Celebration

Visit here for all the exciting details about this upcoming event.  You'll come away with dozens of easy ideas for making a difference.

Get involved! See below for ways to make a difference!

News ImageReduce High Winter Gas Bills
Act now to stay comfortable during the colder weather while lowering natural gas costs.
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Reduce Plastics in our creeks and Bay
This page summarizes the City's work on reducing plastics in our local creeks and Bay.
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News ImageCommunity Environmental Action Partnership
Joining the CEAP is a chance to get involved, create positive change, and have a voice in the direction taken by your community.
( visit the CEAP home page )
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Budget Adoption for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011
There are four convenient ways to learn more and contribute to the annual budget review process.
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News ImagePhotovoltaic (PV) Partners Program

CPAU customers can get rebates for installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.


( pv forms and downloads )
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Restriction of Expanded Polystyrene Disposable Food Service Containers
Ordinance to restrict disposable food service containers made from expanded polystrene and non-recylable plastic disposable.
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Plastic Bag Restrictions
The purpose of this summary is to provide information to on Palo Alto's Comprehensive Reusable Bag Program.
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News ImageEarth Month Pledge
As a community, we've made a commitment to reduce our carbon footprint by 5% by 2012, and we need your help!
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Parks and Open Space Volunteer Opportunities
Community support through volunteerism and contributions provides help to enhance the enjoyment of our parks and to provide a greater range of programs, activities, and special events.
( visit the parks and open space home page )
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The Household Hazardous Waste Program
The Household Hazardous Waste Management program provides Palo Alto residents with an environmentally safe way to get rid of selected hazardous wastes.
( more about hazardous waste programs )
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Preventing Pollution at Home
The Bay is closer than you think. Find out how to minimize your impact to the bay!
( visit the doing your part page )
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Fats, Oils and Grease - Grease Haulers
Many grease hauling companies have been caught illegally dumping grease from their clients' grease removal devices into sewer manholes or storm drains.
( visit the environmental compliance home page )
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Fats, Oils and Grease - Restaurants
All food service facilities should be aware of the importance of installation and proper maintenance of grease removal devices.
( visit the environmental compliance home page )
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Reporting Spills, Dumping, and Back-Ups
If you notice any unusual substance in or around a storm drain, or if you see someone dumping anything into the storm drain, street, or gutter, to local creeks or the Bay, or elsewhere in the outdoor environment, report it to us.
( visit the environmental compliance home page )
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Schedule Of Hazardous Waste Events
The Household Hazardous Waste events have been scheduled in 2009 for the Palo Alto Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program
( more about hazardous waste programs )
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Shared BYOBag Collateral
shared collateral for BYOBag campaign tools
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How To Keep Your Sanitary Sewer Working Properly
Ways to prevent sewer backups and avoid expensive emergency plumbing.
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Palo Alto Approves Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The goal of the Climate Protection Plan is to present a comprehensive inventory of municipal (City government-generated) and community-generated emissions, propose reduction targets, and propose practical steps to reach those targets.
( visit the environment in palo alto pages )
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Business Junk Mail Reduction
How to reduce your Business' Junk Mail.
( visit the recycling home page )
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News ImagePaloAltoGreen Program
The affordable way to support 100% clean wind and solar power. 
( visit the paloaltogreen home page )
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Introduction to Zero Waste
On November 15, 2004, the Palo Alto City Council directed City staff to prepare a Zero Waste Plan for the Palo Alto community.  The goal of Zero Waste is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.
( visit the zero waste program home page )
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What's New in Recycling
Recent news in recycling.
( visit the recycling home page )
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Clean Up Day
One Free Curbside Pick-up Annually. You Choose the Date!
( visit the recycling home page )
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Residential Junk Mail Reduction Kit
For a FREE, printed Junk Mail Reduction Kit with pre-addressed cards, please contact the Recycling Program.
( residential recycling home page )
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Buy Recycled Content
Recycling doesn't end at your curbside or workplace. Buying a new, recycled content product "closes the loop" on recycling.
( visit the business recycling page )
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Home Composting Workshops
The City of Palo Alto Zero Waste Program offers monthly compost workshops, taught by Master Composters.
( visit the recycling home page )
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Clean Bay Business Garden Centers And Hardware Stores
Local garden centers and hardware stores are helping to spread the word about non-toxic and less-toxic ways to manage pests.
( visit the environmental compliance home page )
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Copper
Excessive amounts of copper can be toxic to the Bay's ecosystem. Find out how you can reduce the amount of copper being released to the environment.
( environmental compliance home page )
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Less Toxic Pest Control
We want to change the way you think about pest control.
( pest prevention publications )
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Dioxins
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists San Francisco Bay as an impaired waterway due, in part, to dioxins.
( visit the environmental compliance home page )
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About the Tree Ordinance
The Tree Preservation Ordinance is the City's primary regulatory tool to provide for orderly protection of specified trees, to protect property values and to avoid significant negative impacts on adjacent properties.
( more info about trees )
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News ImageSMART Energy Rebate Program
Rebates to install energy efficient electric and gas saving items in your home.
( smart energy rebate program forms and downloads )
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New Year Brings Changes to Recycling Center
Palo Alto Landfill nears closure date and Recycling Center is smaller.
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News ImageBring Your Own Bag!
Make it a Habit and Grab it.
( visit the zero waste program home page )
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Compost Giveaway Days & Free Mulch
At the Compost Giveaways, residents may receive up to one cubic yard of compost, which equals about six full trash cans.
( visit the recycling home page )
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Debris Hauling Requirements
Beginning July 1, 2009, new requirements have been established.

( visit the public works home page )
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Palo Alto Zero Waste Operational Plan
Council-approved Zero Waste Operational Plan
( visit the zero waste program home page )
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Recycling Programs for Schools
The Recycling Program works closely with the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) and parent or teacher volunteers to assist with and maintain recycling programs in all schools.
( visit the recycling home page )
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The Organics Yard
The focus of the Organics Yard is to enhance the recycling efforts of the community by offering high quality blended soil amendments.
( visit the recycling home page )
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Your Business - What Materials Are Recycled?
Information on recycling for businesses.
( visit the business recycling page )
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Fats, Oils and Grease - Overview
The discharge of fats, oils, and greases to the sanitary sewer system is an important environmental and public health issue.
( visit the environmental compliance home page )
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School Outreach Programs
Regional Water Quality Control Plant school outreach programs are available to teach your students about the pollution prevention.
( visit the water quality home page )
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Downloadable Files
Palo Alto's Best Environmental Practices
Palo Alto's Best Environmental Practices (English Version)
Item Dated: 06/15/2009
Palo Alto's Best Environmental Practices (Chinese Translation)
Chinese translation of Palo Alto's best environmental practices
Item Dated: 06/11/2009
Palo Alto's Best Environmental Practices (Russian Translation)
Russian translation of Palo Alto's best environmental practices
Item Dated: 05/29/2009
Palo Alto Climate Protection Plan
Global warming is nearly universally recognized by scientists, and much of the public, as one of the most important threats facing human civilization, and political stability. This rise in temperatures has major implications for transboundary migration, economic prosperity, and the future of human development. Locally, the effects of climate change are likely to reduce the availability of hydro generated electricity, increase the incidence of forest fires, and lead to a rise in the level of San Francisco Bay that would impact Palo Alto’s shoreline.
Item Dated: 03/10/2008
Zero Waste Operational Plan, June 2007
September 17, 2007 Council-approved Zero Waste Operational Plan
Item Dated: 09/17/2007
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