​Environmental Sustainability Plan

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  sound behaviors.
​ Actively explore the feasibility of implementing new and innovative products and/or practices that provide environmental benefits...	​ Direct all County business units to integrate considerations into their activities, and direct LUESA staff to assist business units...	​ Review of County activities to insure we seek practical ways to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of our activities...

POLICY TEXT:

RESOLUTION OF THE MECKLENBURG COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP POLICY

WHEREAS, protecting the environment for the benefit of future generations is in the public's interest; and

WHEREAS, citizens recognize that environmental degradation in our community is part of a larger, regional growth management issue, and

WHEREAS, local, state and federal environmental regulations will likely be inadequate to overcome the adverse environmental impacts of projected growth; and

WHEREAS, compliance with environmental regulations in County government operations is the minimum expected performance level; and

WHEREAS, actions by individuals and organizations are necessary to protect our environment and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, Mecklenburg County has the internal expertise to integrate environmental considerations into our daily activities and optimize environmental performance throughout County operations; and

WHEREAS, Mecklenburg County has previously adopted policies and ordinances associated with individual environmental media including air quality, solid waste/recycling, surface water, and stormwater management applicable to government operations and the community;

Now therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners adopts an Environmental Leadership Policy, that will further the County's 2015 Vision to be "a community of pride and choice for people to LIVE, WORK and RECREATE," to wit:

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.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the "Environmental Leadership Policy" will be comprised of principles that will guide the recurring activities of County government as follows:

1. Comply with all applicable local, state and federal environmental regulations in all County facilities.
2. Practice energy conservation in all County facilities.
3. Practice waste minimization and recycling in all County facilities.
4. Purchase the lowest-emission vehicles practical to meet County needs.
5. Include environmental considerations in purchasing decisions for goods and services.
6. Acquire, maintain, manage, and preserve land to protect the natural environment.
7. Re-use existing buildings and infrastrncture and avoid greenfield development.
8. Require environmentally sensitive design options in all new facilities and retrofits.
9. Provide employees with opportunities and incentives to practice environmentally sound behaviors.
10. Actively explore the feasibility of implementing new and innovative products and/or practices that provide environmental benefits, and inform elected officials of new opportunities.
11. 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.
12. Develop a process 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.
    

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Manager is directed to appoint County staff members to the Environmental Leadership Team, and begin implementation of a process to identify, evaluate, prioritize and act on environmental aspects of Cmmty operations that warrant examination, modification or corrective action and report findings to the Board of County Commissioners as projects are proposed and/or completed, and at a minimum on an annual basis to document accomplishments.

ADOPTED the 17th day of February, 2004.