Environmental Sustainability Plan

In 2004, Mecklenburg County’s Board of County Commissioners passed the Environmental Leadership Policy:

"The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners desires that County government operate in a manner that conserves and protects our air, water and land resources, become a model of environmental stewardship for local governments, business and industry in our region, and use and apply the County's existing and future resources wisely for the benefit of its citizens."

To pursue this mission, the Environmental Leadership Policy identified 12 guiding principles:

	Comply with all applicable local, state and federal environmental regulations in all County facilities.
	Practice energy conservation in all County facilities.
	Practice waste minimization and recycling in all County facilities.
	Purchase the lowest-emission vehicles practical to meet County needs.
	Include environmental considerations in purchasing decisions for goods and services.
	Acquire, maintain and preserve land to protect the natural environment.
	Reuse existing buildings and infrastructure and avoid greenfield development.
	Require environmentally sensitive design options in all new facilities and retrofits.
	Provide employees with opportunities and incentives to practice environmentally sound behaviors.
	Actively explore the feasibility of implementing new and innovative products and/or practices that provide environmental benefits, and inform elected officials of new opportunities.
	Direct all County business units to integrate environmental considerations into their activities, and direct LUESA staff to assist business units with identifying and implementing environmentally sound practices.
	Develop a program for continuous review of County activities to insure we seek practical ways to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of our activities, and carefully evaluate new opportunities to achieve sound environmental practices in government operations.