Environment & Sustainability

The Town's Climate Action Plan (PDF) was adopted by the Council on May 18, 2009. The plan is intended as best practices and is intended to provide a combination of actions the Town would take with respect to its own operations, some regulatory actions and cooperative efforts within the community to provide residents and business owners ways to reduce greenhouse emissions. More in depth and up to date information will be included in the Town's General Plan.

What can Danville residents do to impact climate change? CHANGE YOUR MCE PLAN FROM LIGHT GREEN TO DEEP GREEN!

It’s an easy step to help fight climate change. Many in the Danville community power their homes with MCE Light Green 60%. renewable energy service. For an additional $0.01 per kilowatt-hour, you can opt up to Deep Green 100% renewable energy service, completely eliminating your electricity-based greenhouse gas emissions for your home! Many people drive electric vehicles (EVs). If you drive an EV, remember that your EV is only as clean as the electricity that powers it. Deep Green service comes from California wind and solar power. Half of the Deep Green premium goes toward the Deep Green Renewable Development Fund, which helps fund the build-out of local renewable energy projects. Take the challenge and OPT UP to DEEP GREEN 100% renewable energy with MCE. https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/100-renewable/ 

sb 1383: reducing methane gas climate pollution

On January 1, 2022, Senate Bill 1383—Reducing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in California took effect. SB 1383 requires the state to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025. In other words, the state must reduce organic waste disposal by more than 20 million tons annually to meet this goal by 2025! CalRecycle and the California Air Resources Board have joined together to establish goals for local governments to reduce organic waste going to landfills. The Town of Danville has been assigned a goal of reducing .08 tons of organic waste per resident. That is equal to 3,512 tons of organic waste diverted from landfill in 2022.

Organic waste produces methane in landfills. Methane is a super pollutant creating global warming and climate change. What comprises organic waste? It is green waste, wood waste, food waste, and fibers such as paper and cardboard. How can you help reduce organic waste? 

• Reduce unwanted mail by visiting www.dmachoice.org to opt out of national junk mail. 
• Contact local and regional companies sending you unwanted mail and ask to be taken off their list. 
• Just Mow/Don’t bag—Leave grass clippings on your lawn. The clippings will decompose, adding much needed nutrients to your lawn and lighten the waste you bring to the curb. 
• Purchase products with less packaging and use reusable shopping bags.
•  Compost food scraps and yard trimmings in your back yard. 
• 40% of all food in America is wasted. Visit https://savethefood.com/ to find out how you can reduce the amount of food your family throws out. 

Taking these steps are a great way to celebrate Earth Day every day and help steer California to a better climate. For more information on organics recycling services visit recyclesmart.org/houses/green-cart and https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics.