Air, Energy & Water Efforts

• Recycling: Five Rivers MetroParks supports Recycling!
  We recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles at all our facilities, as well as at our programs and events offsite.
  • We recycle paper at our office locations.
  • We recycle mower blades, used pieces or iron from our maintenance equipment.
  • Used motor oil from our maintenance equipment is used to heat one of our service centers.
    
    
• Pollution Reduction
  MetroParks has instituted a number of practices, which explore the use of alternative energy and fuel sources, thus reducing our pollution output.
  
  • We are switching agency vehicles to synthetic oils, which have a longer life than traditional motor oil. Some synthetic oils can last the life of the vehicle, which means we no longer have to dispose of used motor oil.
  • We are purchasing bio diesel (B20) fuel for our tractors and mowers. We are currently using B20, which is blend of 20% bio diesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel, and are experimenting with B99, which is 99% bio diesel. A side benefit is that the exhaust smells like French fries!
  • A number of staff members are driving SUV hybrid vehicles on the job, dramatically increasing their fuel efficiency over traditional SUVs.
  • The bar oil used for Chain Saws has been replaced by a bio-lubricant.
  • We are experimenting with oils that entirely plant based in place of traditional motor and engine oil used in other maintenance equipment.
  • Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) are used at a few facilities such as Carriage Hill MetroPark in place of traditional pickup trucks. These electrical street-legal vehicles are used for service and maintenance on site.
  • All-electric, 4-wheel drive, silent utility vehicle called Bad Boy Buggies are used by the conservation team and trail maintenance staff in place of gas powered vehicles.
    
    
• Composting
  At MetroParks, we are recycling our own green waste internally rather than sending it off to be dumped in a landfill.
  • Since 2004, Cox Arboretum MetroPark has been composting garden debris and using the finished product for amending new beds and top dressing established plantings.
  • In 2007, Wegerzn Gardens MetroPark worked with Marvin Duren or Marvin’s Organic Gardens to establish a facility compost operation.
  • Manure from riding facility at Englewood MetroPark is used at the city of Englewood’s compost facility.

• Use of Fluorescent Bulbs
  • Nearly all incandescent light bulbs within facilities have been switched to high-efficiency fluorescent bulbs.
• Even Tube fluorescent bulbs have been switched to more energy-efficient T8 fluorescent lamps.

• Use of Recycled Products
  • MetroParks uses recycled plastic & wood composite boards as a standard material for picnic tables, boardwalks, and decks.
  • A number of our janitorial products are made from recycled or low– impact materials, such as biodegradable plastic trash bags and hand towels and bathroom tissue made from recycled paper.
    
    
• Sustainability Committee
  Five Rivers MetroParks is committed to sustainable practices that minimize the organization’s "ecological footprint" and conserve finite resources for future generations. However, just as you are learning what it means to be green, so are we.
  
  To further our efforts, we have designed a Sustainability Committee within MetroParks. This committee is responsible for researching new ideas & pushing environmental efforts forward across the organization, while being responsible stewards of the Montgomery County taxpayers dollars.
  
  Have a green idea for us? Contact us at 937-275-PARK or email mdavis@metroparks.org and share your thoughts. We’re in this together.