CLEAN GREEN ARLINGTON
The City of Arlington and our community partners seek to be leaders in protecting public health through environmentally beneficial operations. Our major goals are:

1. Enhancing our commitment to community health through environmental initiatives
2. Utilizing ordinance and best practices for a clean green Arlington
3. Leveraging public and private partnerships 
4. Making the community a part of the solution

Many projects are under way and more are being planned. Here are some highlights:

THE GREEN TEAM
Launched on Earth Day 2008, Arlington’s commercial recycling program helps businesses look for savings through waste reduction and recycling. Businesses are guided through the process of conducting waste audits, setting up in-house recycling programs, and connecting recyclables to buyers.

ENERGY CONSERVATION
In January 2008, the City Council approved a contract to hire an Energy Service Company (ESCO) to run a pilot study in three city facilities to determine where energy savings could be captured through retrofits and upgrades to facilities and equipment.

CARBON FOOTPRINT
Arlington has pledged to reduce fossil fuel, burning greenhouse gas emissions associated with municipal operations. In partnership with UT Arlington and CDM consultants, the city created a carbon footprint (or GHG emissions inventory) for the community and municipal operations.

GREEN CEMENT
Along with other local governments in the North Texas Region, the Arlington City Council passed a resolution in January 2008 allowing preference on bid evaluations for products from facilities that produce cement with lower emission rates.
  

COMPOSTING CLASSES
In response to the need to keep yard trimmings out of the landfill, the City of Arlington, in partnership with the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, offers a Master Composter Training Program for citizens. This program is designed to train and recruit local volunteers, to promote backyard composting and yard waste reduction in their own neighborhoods.

GoMINIMIZER.COM
Arlington’s recycling crusader and mascot, the Minimizer, visits area schools, organizations and events to promote residential recycling in Arlington. He has his own fun website where kids can learn how to recycle and find useful tips and information about other ways they can benefit the environment.

ENERGY STAR CHALLENGE
Change a light and change the world. The City of Arlington is asking every resident to help save energy, money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making a pledge to change at least one light to an energy-efficient model bearing the Energy Star label.

GREEN POLICY COUNCIL
In 2008, an interdepartmental team was formed to review internal policies and procedures and to make recommendations on how employees can be better environmental stewards on the job. Single-stream recycling and recycling more than just office paper are now throughout city facilities.

LANDFILL
In 2002, the city installed an award-winning methane gas recycling system at its landfill. Free of charge, residents can drop off household recyclables such as newspapers, magazines, flattened cardboard boxes, junk mail, phone books, glass and plastic. The landfill also accepts computers, tires (limit of four), concrete, asphalt, brush, fence panels and scrap metal.
  

WATER CONSERVATION
The city has year-round water conservation for lawns and landscapes with watering nixed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Low-flow amenities are installed in new municipal buildings, and existing facilities are retrofitted, when feasible. Facilities use rainwater in ponds for turf irrigation and SmartScape gardens to conserve water.

L.E.A.F.
The “Let’s Enhance Arlington’s Forest” program is an urban forestry initiative designed to bring quality free trees to neighborhoods, businesses and public open spaces in Arlington.  The program is also helping to improve air and water quality.

THE RESERVE
In 1997, Arlington Golf embarked on the construction of Tierra Verde Golf Club and the MLK Sports Center at The Reserve, utilizing the principles of sustainable resource management on the course, sports complex and buildings. The golf course is the first in Texas and the first municipal golf course in the world and the sports center became the first sports facility in the world to be designated as an Audubon Signature Sanctuary by Audubon International.

FLEET VEHICLE
To reduce emissions, approximately 38 hybrid vehicles have been added to the city’s fleet, which produces 90 percent less pollutants than their gas-burning equivalents.