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ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS
The LFUCG and the City of Lexington have been recognized over the last several years for efforts to protect the environment and preserve our natural resources. This recognition includes:
Lexington received the National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA designation in 2007. Communities that receive this designation must have a Tree Board, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program, and must observe Arbor Day. Lexington has received this designation for twenty (consecutive) years.
The League of American Bicyclists named Lexington a 'Bronze Level' Bike-Friendly Community in 2007. A Bike Summit was held in Lexington on Sept 21, 2007 to create an action plan for expediting the implementation of the newly adopted Bike/Pedestrian Master Plan. During this summit, the League of American Bicyclists named Lexington a 'Bronze Level' Bike-Friendly Community.
The LFUCG received a 2007 Annual Award from the Lexington-Fayette Environmental Commission for joining the KY EXCEL program. The Kentucky EXCEL program is a voluntary environmental leadership program which the LFUCG joined at the Leader level.
The LFUCG also received a 2007 Annual Award from the Lexington-Fayette Environmental Commission for the 2006 Spring Clean HHW collection event and the WasteBuster recycling program. Over 1,900 households brought unwanted paint, pesticides, and other household hazardous wastes to the Spring Clean event and a total of 94 tons of hazardous waste were collected. The WasteBuster program is a joint initiative with Bluegrass PRIDE designed to increase recycling in Fayette County schools, apartments and businesses. There are now over 50 schools (public and private) as well as 70 businesses and 13 apartments participating in the WasteBuster recycling program.
Lexington ranked 18th nationally in the first-ever Earth Day Network (2007) Urban Environment Report. This report scores the current environmental performance of 72 of our nation’s largest cities based on over 200 indicators, taking into account those populations which may have greater sensitivity or susceptibility to environmental, health, and social problems. Areas considered included vulnerable populations, toxics and waste, air quality, drinking water quality, surface water quality, parks and recreation opportunities, human and public health, climate change, and quality of life (as determined by safety, income, transportation, education, jobs, and sprawl). For more info go to http://www.earthday.net/UER/report/
Lexington ranked 12th nationally in the 2006 Green Guide survey of top green cities. The Green Guide surveyed mayors’ offices in all 251 metropolitan areas with populations of 100,000 or more in areas such as air quality, environmental policy, green space, public health, recycling, etc. The information obtained during the surveys along with information from the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Green Building Council and other independent sources were considered when making this ranking. Go to http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/113/top10cities for more info
Lexington was named a Cool City by the Sierra Club in November 2005. This designation recognizes cities that are taking steps to reduce global warming such as greening vehicle fleets, improving energy efficiency, and pursuing renewable energy.
Lexington received the National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA designation. Communities that receive this designation must have a Tree Board, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program, and must observe Arbor Day. Lexington was the first community in Kentucky to receive this designation and has received this designation for eighteen (consecutive) years. Additional information on this designation can be viewed at http://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa.cfm
The Division of Police received a Certificate of Recognition from the Lexington-Fayette Environmental Commission in 2006. This recognition was awarded for implementing an environmental stewardship plan and recovering and recycling spent ammunition from the Police Outdoor Firing Range in 2005. Over 39,000 pounds of ammunition were recovered and recycled in May 2005.
The LFUCG was awarded a Best Management Practices Certificate of Recognition in May of 2005 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for implementing an Environmental Stewardship Plan at the Division of Police outdoor firing range at 4015 Parker’s Mill Road. This Environmental Stewardship Plan, which was developed jointly by the LFUCG Division of Police and the LFUCG Division of Risk Management, has been adopted as a Standard Operating Procedure by the Division of Police. The LFUCG firing range is the only outdoor firing range in Kentucky to have received this honor.
Lexington’s Clean Indoor Air Ordinance was recognized with the 2005 Earth Day Award from the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission (EQC). On July 1, 2003 Lexington became the first city in the state to pass an ordinance to protect the public from secondhand smoke. More information on this award is available at http://www.eqc.ky.gov/eday/.
The PDR program was awarded the 2004 Gold Award for Municipal Enrichment from the National League of Cities. The PDR program was one of four gold winners nationally of the League’s James C. Howland Awards for Municipal Enrichment.
The LFUCG was given the Bluegrass Pride Clean Community Award for developing solutions to environmental problems in 2004. Go to http://www.kentuckypride.com/index.htm for more information about the Bluegrass Pride program.
The LFUCG received the Solid Waste Education Award from the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet for accomplishments in educating citizens on Solid Waste issues in 2004
The LFUCG received the Fayette Environmental Commission Annual Award in 2004 for capping Old Frankfort Pike Landfill, Tree Madness, and using the wood waste generated by the February 2003 ice storm.
The LFUCG Division of Fleet Services received the 2003 Environmental Award from the Lexington-Fayette Environmental Commission for purchasing 23 hybrid (gas-electric) vehicles for use in the city fleet as general use “pool” vehicles. These vehicles emit less pollution and use significantly less fuel than our other fleet cars.
The Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program received the 2002 Earth Day Award from the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission (EQC). The award was in recognition of efforts to preserve Fayette County farmland through the purchase of development rights, and was the first locally run farmland protection program in the state.
More information on this award is available at http://www.eqc.ky.gov/eday/
The LFUCG Division of Solid Waste was given the Outstanding Recycling Program Award from the Kentucky Division of Waste Management in 2002.
The LFUCG received the 2001 Environmental Award from the Lexington-Fayette Environmental Commission for implementing a program to collect and
recycle universal wastes such as burned-out lamps, mercury thermostats, and rechargeable batteries. This helps us comply with environmental regulations
and also helps conserve natural resources since these are recycled.
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