ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: September 21,1995
Dept. File No.H193-27
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Special Office for the Environment
SUBJECT: Environmental Audit Update
INFORMATION
The General Manager of Engineering Services and General Manager of
Community Services submit this update, pertaining to the
environmental audits of City facilities, for Council's INFORMATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council, at its meeting of February 21, 1989 approved a motion which set
a waste reduction goal of 40% beyond the level of 10% achieved in 1985.
Council, at its meeting of March 27, 1990 directed that all plastic foam
be phased out of all City Hall offices, works yards and other places of
employment, such as fire halls police stations, libraries and community
centres.
Council, at its meeting of October 16, 1990 approved 34 recommendations
from the Task Force on Atmospheric Change. The Task Force's report
included recommendations pertaining to environmentally sound purchasing,
solid waste reduction and energy conservation.
Council, at its meeting of February 21, 1992 rejected a Harmony
Foundation proposal to use the City as an environmental audit
demonstration site and directed that the Special Office for the
Environment staff pursue this work.
Council, at its meeting of February 18, 1993 approved a series of
recommendations regarding water conservation which included a water
conservation education program.
Council, at its meeting of July 6, 1993 approved the adoption of a code
for Environmentally Sound Business Practices and a statement of
Principle on Environmentally Sound Purchasing Practices.
Council, at its meeting of February 22, 1994 approved the
recommendations of the Special Office for the Environment's first
Environmental Audit Update Report which included a review of Central
Stores at the Manitoba Works Yard as well as the receipt of an
Environmental Management Guide developed by the Special Office for the
Environment.
PURPOSE
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When the decentralized Special Office for the Environment was formed,
two of the work plan items identified were environmental reviews of City
facilities as well as a "Greening of City Hall". This report is an
update with respect to the process of addressing the two tasks. On
reference in the City Clerk s Department are environmental reviews of
four facilities including City Hall. It was decided to put the reviews
on reference, rather than provide a wide distribution, as the review
summary document is a substantial length.
The reviews serve as an assessment of our current performance and
outline many environmental initiatives which have been undertaken in the
facilities as well as provide suggestions for further improvements. The
four facilities which were reviewed are: City Hall, Sunset Nurseries,
the Burrard Health Unit and the West Main Health Unit.
It is the Special Office's intent to provide these reviews on an ongoing
basis to ensure environmentally sound management practices throughout
the City organization.
BACKGROUND
In September 1991, the Federal Government's Environmental Partners Fund
approved a grant to the Harmony Foundation (a non-profit environmental
organization based in Ontario) to promote improving environmental
practices in the workplace in communities across Canada. The City of
Vancouver was contacted and presented with Harmony's environmental audit
package and asked to participate in an environmental audit program. The
proposal was rejected by Council, primarily because there were financial
resources and other conditions stipulated and it was felt we could do
this work ourselves through the Special Office for the Environment.
Although we did not participate in the Harmony program, it was
recognized that the Harmony Foundation had produced excellent
environmental management material. We requested that the Harmony
Foundation allow the City to use their environmental audit package to
develop a guide tailored to specific City of Vancouver issues. This
agreement was acceptable to the Harmony Foundation.
Further to the agreement with the Harmony Foundation, the Special Office
for the Environment prepared a City of Vancouver, Environmental
Management Guide for the Workplace. The package focuses on six main
environmental areas: energy conservation, water conservation, waste,
hazardous waste, transportation and purchasing practices. As the
Environmental Management Guide was being developed, potential City
facilities were being identified for review.
Central Stores at the Manitoba Works Yards was the first site selected
and a review was completed and reported on to Council in 1994. The
Special Office has also been promoting environmental management inside
the City by circulating the Environmental Management Guide to staff and
giving presentations to select groups such as the Corporate Management
Team, the Engineering Superintendents and the Environmental Protection
Officers.
Further, we have also attempted to provide environmental management
information and specifics on City environmental initiatives to groups
outside of the City organization. For example, we were presenters at
the Public Works Association of B.C. conference and have also been
circulating our Environmental Management Guide to industry through the
City's Environmental Protection Officers.
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DISCUSSION
The Special Office for the Environment conducted environmental reviews
of four facilities including two Health Units, Sunset Nurseries and City
Hall. The findings varied widely as would be expected given the
different types of operations, the range in ages of the buildings, etc.
However, what was consistent and encouraging is that a variety of
environmental initiatives have been undertaken at all the sites. For
example, at City Hall we are continually attempting to improve our
environmental management practices in a variety of different ways. The
specific findings with respect to each facility are denoted as Appendix
A, and are on reference in the City Clerk s Department.
Some illustrations of current and proposed projects at City Hall include
blue print recycling and a pilot battery recycling program in Permits
and Licenses, water conservation retrofits to the plumbing fixtures,
double paning of the windows and outside lighting upgrades to more
energy efficient lighting. Further, in addition to infrastructure
upgrades, many small steps are also being undertaken. For example,
photocopy two-sided signs are posted at the photocopiers; there has been
a move to coffee butlers in the cafeteria to reduce energy consumption
and a move to milk and cream bottles to reduce the packaging waste from
the small cream containers; a pesticide and herbicide free landscaping
contract has been implemented; and super saver fluorescent lighting
tubes are being used.
The list of projects which have been undertaken is extensive and what is
also encouraging is that many departments are now beginning to take the
initiative and bring forward ideas. For example, the City Clerks
Department's recent step to reduce the amount of paper used producing
and distributing Council packages.
Notwithstanding the above comments, there is always room for
improvement. One area which was highlighted with respect to City Hall
is the need to upgrade the paper recycling program as well as expand it
to other facilities. These specific needs have not been addressed in
terms of recommendations in this report as the suggested environmental
improvements involve a variety of different people and work areas. It
was felt under these circumstances it would be most efficient for the
particular work areas to address their own issues with the Special
Office for the Environment providing administrative support and follow-
up.
On reference in the City Clerk s Department, and denoted as Appendix B,
is the list of initiatives requiring action from the four work sites
which were reviewed.
Environmental Compliance Checklist:
The current Environmental Management Guide focuses on ways to improve
environmental management in the workplace but does not specifically
address regulatory requirements which are set forth at the Municipal,
Regional, Provincial and Federal level. The Special Office for the
Environment would like to add this component to the environmental review
process to allow work sites the ability to identify potential areas of
non-compliance with existing codes of practice, regulations and legal
requirements. It is envisioned the information will be compiled and
summarized in the form of an Environmental Compliance Checklist and will
pertain to such things as hazardous waste storage and disposal
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requirements, stormsewer discharge regulations, air emission standards
etc.
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APPENDICES ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE