Office of Sustainability and Resilience 2023 Annual Progress Report and Strategic Energy Plan Implementation Year One

Organization-Wide Recommendations Progress RECOMMENDATION 1

information regarding conservation measures, City planning, and economic developments. One of the main objectives of the OSR is to bring awareness about sustainability and resilience efforts in the City by educating and engaging the community about the work of protection, management and restoration of Earth’s natural resources. Key programs the OSR currently manages include Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), Food Waste Collection Pilot, and LiveGreen Awards. Providing educational resources and continued learning opportunities is key to the success of any office, which is why the City exercises various methods for educating the public such as: • Paid advertising • Informational materials • Public signage (e.g., digital kiosks) • Electronic communication (e.g., website content, social media platforms and video conferencing) • Collaborative efforts with local stakeholders (e.g., local organizations, collegiate institutions, developers, etc.) • Environmental stewardship • HHW hotline and GSO Collects mobile app Programs Household Hazardous Waste Program Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is hazardous material that have already been used or can no longer be used. The average household in the US generates about 30 pounds of HHW per year, which reduces available landfill capacities. It is the City’s goal to reuse and recycle HHW material brought to reduce the threat to human health and the environment through proper disposal and recycling activities. The HHW Program is open to all residents of Guilford County and provides a safe and environmentally sound process for properly disposing hazardous materials. As an incentive to the residents of Guilford County, there is no charge at the site for dropping off materials. Another incentive is providing a mobile community recycling event also known as "Recycle Rodeo" twice

The City should establish a Sustainability Office.

STRATEGY 1.1 Approve and fund creation of a Sustainability Office. STRATEGY 1.2 Establish and fill Chief Sustainability Officer position.

STATUS: Completed

Dr. S. Shree Dorestant was hired as Chief Sustainability Officer on June 1, 2022, effectively establishing the Office of Sustainability and Resilience (OSR) within the Executive Department. On July 1, 2023, the OSR was expanded with an internal employee transfer of 10 staff positions from the Engineering and Inspections, Field Operations, Parks and Recreation, and Planning Departments. In addition, the OSR was approved for an inaugural cohort of the NC Climate Action Corps, which allotted one full-time AmeriCorps member for 2023-24 (11-month period) to work for the City of Greensboro in conjunction with Conserving Carolina, a North Carolina nonprofit organization. In November 2023, the OSR team members relocated from various City facilities, to a group of offices in the J. Edward Kitchen Operations Center in order to optimize collaboration and effectiveness. The OSR’s areas of focus include: • Education and Outreach • Energy Management • Environmental Compliance and Support • Sustainability and Resiliency Planning Education and Outreach Prior to the establishment of the OSR, the City had implemented numerous education and outreach initiatives informing local residents and others about

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