Government Information - Green Business Program

If you work for a public agency and are seeking a voluntary environmental program that encourages businesses not only to comply with regulations but to go beyond them, you have come to the right place.
The Bay Area Green Business Program is a cooperative effort that assists businesses and public agencies to come into compliance with all environmental regulations, and take steps to prevent pollution and conserve resources. Certified green businesses and public agencies may display the Green Business logo on their premises and in their advertising. The Green Business Program markets the logo so that consumers can identify environmentally responsible businesses. The public's growing environmental awareness represents purchasing power that can motivate businesses to become "green."
The Bay Area Green Business Program was developed by the Hazardous Waste Management Facility Allocation Committee of the Association of Bay Area Governments. The Committee championed the Program as a way to promote pollution prevention and resource conservation. The Program provides businesses with clear consolidated information and technical assistance on: Complying with environmental regulations (including those pertaining to air quality, wastewater discharge, storm water management, chemical storage and handling, and hazardous waste management); and Going beyond compliance to adopt environmentally-sound practices in four areas - energy efficiency, water conservation, solid and hazardous waste reduction, and pollution prevention.
Motivated to Be Green Until recently, most environmental initiatives targeted big businesses. The Bay Area Green Business Program chose to work with small- and medium-sized businesses. Small operators do not have dedicated environmental specialists on staff and are often not in a position to hire consultants. They tend to avoid seeking help from government and therefore miss opportunities to run environmentally-responsible operations. The Program motivates participation by:
Helping businesses to develop a positive, proactive relationship with environmental agency staff who provide regulatory, pollution prevention, and resource conservation expertise. Coordinating outreach so that the businesses receive consistent rather than conflicting information. Program materials cover all applicable environmental issues. Recognizing businesses at a public ceremony where they receive their Green Business certificate and window decal. Promoting the Program to encourage the public to choose Certified green businesses.
Green Ten Years and Counting The Bay Area Green Business Program, launched in 1996, serves small- to medium-sized consumer-oriented businesses. The Program combines the successful compliance-oriented Sonoma Green model with the Pollution Prevention and Resource Conservation standards developed by Santa Clara County. Initial outreach was to auto repair shops in Alameda and Napa Counties. With the implementation of pilot programs in Solano and San Mateo Counties in July 2007, the Program is now available in all nine Bay Area counties. As the Program has expanded its range within the region, the range of business types included has expanded as well. We currently have checklists for the following industries: auto services, printing, hotels, restaurants, landscape design and maintenance, remodeling, garment cleaning (using wet cleaning or CO2 systems exclusively), dentists, wineries, and office and retail operations. Other businesses may be eligible. Counties may choose to direct their efforts to particular industries, based on local environmental priorities. Since program inception, more than 1,000 businesses, including a number of government agencies, have been certified and the pace is accelerating. The Program is also expanding beyond the Bay Area. Programs have been established in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Diego Counties and in the State of Hawaii. Green Business partners are working to achieve the following in 2007: Recognize 1,100 Businesses and Public Agencies; Offer the program to more industries; Implement a regional marketing campaign to encourage the public to shop "green"; and Assist in expanding the Program so that it is available throughout the Bay Area and California. For more information about the Bay Area Green Business Program, contact Ceil Scandone at (510) 464-7961 or e-mail the Green Business Program. For information about the individual county programs, contact the County Coordinators.