If you or someone you know is ahead of the game and currently using innovative "green" practices, let us know. We are looking to add success stories and new ideas to the SPOP site, so please take a look at our success stories submission page.

• Review all cleaning supplies and substitute nontoxic products. Favor products like Simple Green.(For more ideas and information, look at the Fort Vancouver Environmentally Preferred Purchasing List.)

• Purchase plastic bags with recycled content.

• Purchase water-based cleaners, citrus-based solvents, paints with low level volatile organic compounds, nonclorine bleached paper.

• Review equipment preventive maintenance practices.

• Review park practices and procedures regarding two stroke engines and other air and noise polluting devices. Where can their use be reduced?

• Investigate grounds maintenance practices. Can water consumption be minimized? Can an alternate lawn cover (ecograss) be used that requires less water and mowing? Can native plantings be better used?

• Can fertilizers be reduced or replaced with organic ones?

Transportation

• Investigate whether your vehicle service station can use rerefined oil in your vehicles. If the station does not, make it clear what your preference is.

• Investigate whether your vehicles can use retread tires (also available off GSA). Let your supplier know your preference.

• Purchase bio-based hydraulic and other automotive fluids. Bio-based agricultural products Source Book can be obtained by calling 202-690-1633. Check out the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation/USDA web site at:  http://www.usda.gov/aarc/

• Review employee transportation patterns to see where trips could be reduced or combined.

• Investigate feasibility of alternative fueled vehicles.

Administration

• Establish paperless office procedures: electric correspondence without hard copy to follow, files stored on computer.

• Review office and correspondence procedures and let all employees know what the standards are (double sided printing and copying, use of scrap paper, reduced number of copies, elimination of bright colored paper, etc.) Practice source reduction first.

• Establish green meeting and employee function guidelines for waste minimization (reuse of utensils, durable mugs, buy in bulk, reduced packaging, etc.) Check out the task list for planning "green events".

• Develop an awards program to recognize employee achievements in sustainable practices.

• Celebrate with activities and events, key dates such as America Recycles Day (November 15) and Earth Day.

• Designate a park sustainability coordinator.

• Incorporate sustainability performance standards into job descriptions and KSA’s.

Procurement

• Purchase a higher environmental grade of copy paper, i.e., James River Eureka 100! (100% recycled content, chlorine free, distributor Zellerbach, Kathy Geoff, 206-248-5749) if available, or comparable. Avoid paper with groundwood.

• Consider environmental attributes of all purchases. Is the product made from recycled material? Is it recyclable, durable, reusable? What are the lifecycle costs? Can an item be fixed before replaced, donated before discarded? What is the embodied energy, are renewable natural resources used in its production?

• Take a look at the federally required, Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines list of 36 items of recovered content and increase the purchase of recycled products. Incorporate a review of this list into any proposed remodeling, construction, rehabilitation, or demolition projects. Go further by taking a look at the 19 newly proposed items. Develop a preference plan for these and other environmentally preferable items, using the manual Greening of the Government as a reference.

Waste Reduction

• Determine quantity of waste generated and establish a diversion rate. Where can resources be allocated to meet the state goal of 50%?

• Conduct a waste stream analysis to determine what materials could be reduced in use or pulled from the waste stream and develop an education and collection strategy using waste composition results.

• Evaluate where pack in/pack out trash could be instituted.

• Review placement of garbage and recycling containers and signs to see where improvements could be made. Are all recycling containers located next to a trash receptacle? Is contamination a problem where improved signing may help?

• Are there any cooperative waste disposal or recycling market opportunities (i.e., with the USFS, local communities) to increase volume and reduce costs?

• Can improvements be made in the handling and disposal of special waste (pallets, scrap metals, oil, tires, etc.)?

• Investigate composting in relation to additional materials such as biosolids and food waste.

• Establish a battery collection site and mail batteries to recycling centers.

Contracting

• Review contractual procedures to see where environmental language could be incorporated. At a minimum, contractors should submit bids on double sided, recycled content paper.

• Review concessionaire contracts to see where environmental language could be incorporated into the performance criteria. Specify waste reduction, recycling, green materials use, and energy and water efficiency standards or requirements.

• Evaluate beverage containers sold in concessions in relation to compatibility to collection strategy. Can plastic be limited or reduced in favor of aluminum?

• Review any permit or reservation system procedures (events, group picnics) where waste reduction/litter messages could be incorporated.

Energy

• Investigate energy savings practices such as timer lights, use of hand dryers instead of paper towels, etc.

• Purchase energy efficient lighting and equipment.

Design and Construction

• Keep in mind the value of demolition salvage; materials that can be reused, sold, or otherwise kept out of the waste stream.

• Cyclic maintenance projects; consider using: recycled paint; plastic lumber for marina use, picnic tables and signs, recycled content carpet or nylon with 100% reclaimed backing. Make sure you recycle the old carpet.

• Add an environmental or sustainability component to any existing project review (i.e., in addition to 106 compliance, handicapped accessibility, etc.)

Education

• How can the education staff be more involved in getting messages to school groups and the public? What literature, postings on bulletin boards, etc., is needed to inform visitors about recycling opportunities?

• Develop a list of employee expectations in relation to sustainable practices and incorporate into employee training sessions.