Pleasanton Takes Steps toward Sustainability

The California landscape has changed a lot over the past five hundred years. 

But through specific programs, the City of Pleasanton is encouraging a return to a rich native landscape while at the same time promoting the local economy with a commitment to sustainability and energy efficiencies.

During a talk about "Sustainability: Then and Now" on April 22,  three panelists from the city spoke about the different programs helping to make sure natural resources are not squandered.

A small crowd of Pleasanton residents attended the lecture at the Lynnewood Methodist United Church, hosted by the Museum on Main as part of its Ed Kinney Lecture Series.

City Naturalist Eric Nicholas, one of the speakers, said early inhabitants of the Bay Area knew that sustainability is key to survival.

"Use of everything was important," he said. "Sustainability would have been like a religion to the people."

Pleasanton Director of Operations Services Daniel Smith spoke about how society has become a "throw-away society." But that mentality is no longer acceptable as resources like oil and water become more limited.

Smith said the city is using new technologies to help residents reduce waste and save money at the same time.

"It doesn't matter if you don't believe in global warming," said Smith. "If you don't do it for the environment, do it for the economy."

Maria Lara, from the City Manager's office, outlined Pleasanton's progress in its recycling plan. Services like paper recycling, the Blue Bag program, and yard waste and food scrap collection have been added since comingled recycling was introduced in 1990.

Free E-Waste collections also are held regularly--the next one will be held April 30 - May 2 at the Fairgrounds.

Six months ago the "Sort, Roll and Go" program gave Pleasanton residents the ability to sort their trash into blue recycling, green food scraps and yard waste, or black garbage containers. The program will help Pleasanton to meet its goal of diverting 75% of waste away from landfills by the end of this year. 

Smith also highlighted Pleasanton's Efficiency Partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Co., which provides the city with building audits, electricity-use statistics, access to state energy rebates, and often, zero-cost upgrades for small and medium commercial buildings.

Other projects include the Solar Photovoltaic Project at the Operations Services Center on Busch Road, the Solar Cities residential program, and the California First clean energy financing program, which will help homeowners make energy efficiency improvements to their homes and create more construction and installation jobs.

"Governments and businesses are going to drive change, and where that's going to come from is the people in the community," Smith said. "You can make a difference."