Air Quality -- The Clean Air Act requires the federal EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health. National standards exist for six pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone and particulate matter. Fayette County is currently designated as an attainment area by the EPA for all six of these pollutants. During 2007, the LFUCG implemented and/or continued several initiatives to improve air quality, most of which were facilitated through the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) located in the Division of Planning. These include continued forecasting of the Air Quality Index (AQI) level during the Ozone Season (May 1 - September 30) to provide the public with information on air quality and coordinating the Fayette County biodiesel initiative (discussed in more detail below). In 2007 Lexington received $320,000 in CMAQ funding for installation of fiber optic cable for traffic control signal systems on Man-O-War Boulevard, Nicholasville Road and Alumni Drive and $88,000 to construct an aboveground storage tank to facilitate Fayette County's biodiesel fuel program. The Lexington Bluegrass Mobility Office offers a carpool/vanpool computer ride matching program that includes LexVan, a work commute vanpool leasing program. These services are available to anyone that lives or works in Fayette or any of the 18- county Bluegrass area- there are now 21 vans.
Biodiesel -- The LFUCG joined with UK, FCPS and LexTran in a new 2006 initiative to promote the use of biodiesel in Fayette County and continued this initiative in 2007. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that is typically made from soybeans. For our part, the LFUCG has used over 19,000 gallons of biodiesel since this initiative, which was coordinated by Lexington MPO staff and done under the Bluegrass Partnership for A Green Community umbrella, began. Using biodiesel conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and helps reduce particulate emissions.
Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community -- The LFUCG continued to take steps in 2007 to facilitate this partnership, designed to promote environmental initiatives and to promote a sustainable community. Since signing the joint proclamation on August 24, 2005 with the University of Kentucky and Fayette County Public Schools, LFUCG employees have served on many of the various Bluegrass Partnership teams.
Change-A-Light Change the World Campaign -- The LFUCG serves as a pledge driver in the EPA Change-A-Light Change the World Campaign. As a pledge driver, the LFUCG encouraged employees and residents to switch from incandescent bulbs to more energy efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent bulbs. You can take the pledge online at http://www.lfucg.com/environmental/change.asp
Climate Change -- Lexington recently joined the ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Program. Cities which join this program are expected to (1) conduct a baseline emissions inventory and forecast; (2) adopt an emissions reduction target; (3) develop a local action plan; (4) implement policies and measures and; (5) monitor and verify the implementation of policies and measures. Lexington has also signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
Composting -- In 2007 20,082 tons of yard waste and brush were composted at the LFUCG compost pad. The Division of Waste Management also held several mulch “give away” events, providing (free) mulch to Fayette County citizens for landscaping.
Electronics Recycling Program -- In 2007 the Division of Waste Management began holding regularly-scheduled electronics drop-off events and they recycled 368,723 pounds of electronic components collected from Fayette County residents and from LFUCG internal operations- this represents an increase of almost 20% over the 2006 calendar year. Since unwanted electronics or “E-wastes” contain toxic compounds, this allows these materials to be managed in a way that protects the environment, complies with hazardous waste regulations, and also minimizes potential cleanup liabilities. Additionally the LFUCG began donating working surplus LFUCG computers to the Tubby's Clubhouse program in 2007 and 131 surplus computers were donated to the Tubby's Clubhouse program.
Great American Cleanup -- Several LFUCG divisions joined with neighborhood groups to collect trash and debris during the annual Great American Cleanup this spring. Over 3,900 volunteers removed approximately 200 tons of garbage, debris and trash. This included 1,005 waste tires, 100 batteries and 62 abandoned vehicles.
Greening our Buildings -- Some notable efforts in 2007 included installing Variable Speed Drives on the chillers at the Detention Center (this is projected to result in an energy savings of 460,560 kWh/year, a monetary savings of $18,850 per year and a CO2 reduction of 424 metric tons per year), sponsoring the Bluegrass Green Living and Energy EXPO, replacing one large screw pump with a capacity of 25 million gallons per day at the West Hickman Treatment Plant with two smaller pumps having a capacity of 12.8 million gallons per day, using LED lights on the Triangle Park Christmas tree for the first time, distributing wallet cards with energy tips to all LFUCG employees, serving as a pledge driver in the EPA Change a Light Campaign, implementing a policy of purchasing EPA Energy Star rated lighting, heating and cooling equipment, and facilitating the LFUCG Energy Efficiency Annual Awards which recognize divisions that take steps to save energy. The Division of Traffic Engineering also continued the use of LED traffic signal modules which use significantly less energy than incandescent signals- this upgrade has lowered LFUCG energy costs for these signals by approximately $120,000 per year, reduced maintenance costs significantly and also reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Greening our Fleet -- The LFUCG purchased four additional gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles so that we now have 41 of these. This is currently the largest fleet of hybrid vehicles in Kentucky (public or private). These vehicles get about twice the mileage of the vehicles they replaced. Additionally, each year these 41 hybrids produced 9,500 fewer pounds of carbon monoxide; 1500 fewer pounds of hydrocarbons; and 680 fewer pounds of nitrogen oxides than 41 conventionally powered vehicles. The LFUCG also currently purchases gasoline for our fleet containing 7% to 8.5% ethanol (a renewable fuel) through our commercial vendor (Speedway). We purchased 1,022,403 gallons in 2007, meaning we used roughly 81,792 gallons of ethanol. As mentioned previously, the LFUCG has also used over 19,000 gallons of biodiesel under a joint initiative with UK, FCPS, and LexTran which was coordinated by Lexington MPO staff and done under the Bluegrass Partnership for A Green Community umbrella.
Greening our Purchasing -- Using less, reusing items and buying recycled content products are all part of green purchasing (environmentally preferable purchasing). The LFUCG purchases energy efficient computers and office equipment, LED EXIT signs, LED scoreboards and programmable thermostats, low mercury content (green tip) fluorescent bulbs, recycled content paper towels and tissue, non-treated lumber, furnaces with a 90% or higher efficiency rating, 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) air conditioners, and water-based traffic marking paint. We also began a new initiative in 2007 to buy 30% post consumer recycled content paper as our “default” paper for printers and copiers. The LFUCG uses approximately 3,000 cartons (15 million sheets) a year of copy paper and making the switch to recycled content paper reduced the amount of wood required to produce this paper by 83 tons, the amount of energy required by 398 million BTU, the amount of greenhouse gases generated by 50,000 pounds, the amount of wastewater generated by 208,000 gallons, and the amount of waste by 27,000 pounds annually. Additionally, the LFUCG reuses many items including using empty traffic marking paint barrels for asbestos and lead abatement, metal street signs as blanks for new street signs, and crushed glass from the Recycling Center for landfill closure activities. Finally the LFUCG also took steps to reduce the number of printers in the Government Center, Police Headquarters, the Phoenix Building and the Switow Building from 527 to 127 (a 75% reduction) which saves resources.
Household Hazardous Waste -- The LFUCG Division of Waste Management recently began accepting unwanted fluorescent lights and mercury thermostats from Fayette County residents during the quarterly drop-off events for unwanted electronics at the Versailles Road Lexington Campus. A permanent drop-off point was also established for residential mercury thermostats at the LFUCG Recycling Center.
KY EXCEL -- The LFUCG joined the voluntary KY Excellence in Environmental Leadership (KY EXCEL) program administered by the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC) in November 2006 and continued this program in 2007. The LFUCG joined at the Leader level, and was the first local government to join this program.
Kentucky River Clean Sweep -- During the June 2007 event, 2 tons of trash were removed from the Kentucky River in Fayette County. Streets, Roads and Forestry, Fire, Public Works, Waste Management, and Government Communications employees assisted volunteers in the cleanup.
Landfills -- The LFUCG took steps to better manage landfill leachate (liquids) at both Old Frankfort Pike Landfill and the Haley Pike landfill. Liquids within the landfill collected by the leachate collection system at the closed Old Frankfort Pike Landfill are now being pumped directly to the Town Branch Sewage Treatment Plant. Leachate from the Haley Pike Landfill is now being treated using a newly constructed, man-made wetland (as opposed to trucking this leachate to a LFUCG Sewage Treatment Plant). This landfill is the first landfill in Kentucky to treat leachate using a constructed wetland. Prior to this change, approximately four million gallons of leachate were transported to the Town Branch Treatment Plant annually which required 700 trips by truck, each hauling 6,000 gallons of leachate.
Litter Reduction -- The LFUCG began a new program of using inmates to pick up litter in March 2007; these nonviolent inmates picked up 48,000 pounds of trash and cleaned up 171 sites in 2007. Also a new initiative to remove illegal signs from medians and public right-of-ways was implemented by Division of Code Enforcement personnel in 2007.
Petroleum Storage -- The LFUCG stores petroleum in bulk quantities at several sites to facilitate operations. As a pollution prevention measure, Parks and Recreation evaluated their fuel usage in 2007 and subsequently stopped storing bulk quantities of diesel and gasoline on site at Masterson Station Base, the South Base facility and the North Base facility. The aboveground storage tanks were removed from these locations. Additionally the Division of Water and Air Quality is in the process of eliminating on-site diesel and gasoline storage in underground storage tanks at the Town Branch Sewage Treatment Plant; the diesel and gasoline underground storage tanks at this site as well as the used oil tank are scheduled to be removed this year.
Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program -- This program purchases conservation easements on productive farmland in the Rural Service Area, thereby preserving green space and protecting water and air quality in Fayette County. To date, the Rural Land Management Board has purchased conservation easements (development rights) to over 20,713 acres. The goal set forth in the PDR Ordinance is to purchase conservation easements for 50,000 acres of farmland out of 128,000 acres in the Rural Service Area. Farmers participating in this program must prepare an agricultural water quality plan describing how they will conduct farming operations in a manner that protects water quality as required by KRS 224.71 as well as a Farm Conservation Plan.
Rechargeable Battery Recycling -- The LFUCG partners with the nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) to recycle NiCad, lithium ion and nickel metal hydride (rechargeable) batteries like those found in portable power tools, cell phones, etc through their Call 2 Recycle program. The LFUCG now has thirteen RBRC recycling collection points. A total of 640 pounds of rechargeable batteries were recycled this year through these thirteen sites at no cost to the LFUCG.
Recycling of Solid Waste -- The LFUCG Recycling Center increased the amount of recyclables being collected by 1,099 tons in 2006. Approximately 18,555 tons of glass, cardboard, office paper, newspaper, plastic, aluminum, steel, and other fiber were recycled through the Recycling Center during 2007; this is an increase of 1834 tons (10%) over 2006. The LFUCG also worked with Bluegrass PRIDE on a new WasteBuster initiative to promote recycling in schools, businesses, and apartments. Since this program was initiated in 2006, 49 schools, 75 businesses and 15 apartment complexes (representing over 3900 apartment units) have signed up to participate in this program.
Sanitary Sewer Improvements -- A 22.8 million dollar system-wide trunk sewer and collection system rehabilitation project is now complete. This program consisted of seventeen discrete projects and field monitoring indicates this effort has remediated 19 recurring sanitary sewer overflows. Four identified cross connections were also eliminated in October 2007. In regards to the two sewage treatment plants, a second Archimedes screw pump at the West Hickman Treatment Plant is currently being replaced with two smaller, more efficient pumps. Water and Air Quality continues administering the program to disconnect sump pumps from the sanitary sewer system in 2006. To date, 1,023 sump pumps that previously discharged to the sanitary sewer system have been redirected so that they discharge to the storm sewer system which reduces the load on the sanitary sewer system.
Trails -- The LFUCG provided assistance with establishing the Wellington Pedestrian and Bike Trail and the Town Branch Trail, and in designing/planning additional trails. Additionally Lexington recently was awarded federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds for several trail projects to include $700,000 for a 1.4-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail on the north side of Lexington (the Coldstream Park Trail), and $208,000 for Town Branch Trail Phase III, a 1.05 mile pedestrian and bicycle trail project. We also recently were awarded Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds totaling more than $2.8 million. The bulk of these funds will be used to construct the Maine Chance Trail project (four miles of asphalt bicycle and pedestrian trail to link Coldstream Park and the Kentucky Horse Park on the city's north side), and the Gainesway Trail project (two miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails that will connect four schools, a park and community center in southeast Lexington). There are now approximately 20 miles of hard surface/paved (bike) facilities and 15 miles of natural surface trails (there are a total of 100 miles of paved/hard surface trails proposed in the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan).
Universal Waste Program -- The LFUCG has had a comprehensive internal program in place to collect and recycle unwanted mercury containing equipment such as thermometers and mercury switches, burned out lamps, rechargeable batteries and fluorescent light bulbs generated by the LFUCG since 2000. Recycling these materials (as opposed to landfilling these materials) reduces potential environmental liabilities under CERCLA and RCRA. During 2007, approximately 18,767 lamps (including over 22,000 feet or four miles of fluorescent lamps) were collected from various LFUCG locations by Building Maintenance and Construction employees and recycled through an outside vendor under this program.
Urban Forestry -- The LFUCG continued the Reforest the Bluegrass program, which is a cooperative effort between the Division of Engineering, Streets Roads and Forestry, Parks and Recreation and the community which began in 1999. Approximately 4200 tree seedlings were planted at the Town Branch Trail during the 2007 event by 300 volunteers. In the last seven years over 130,000 trees have been planted under this program, which enhances water quality of local streams and provides other environmental benefits. Additionally the LFUCG continued with the Champion Tree Program as well as the Hazard Street Tree (cost-share) program. The Champion Tree Program promotes tree care by recognizing trees that are large for their species. The Hazard Street Tree program pays qualifying homeowners half of the costs to remove and replace dying street trees. Streets, Roads and Forestry also compiled and submitted the necessary documentation for Lexington to retain the National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA designation and the LFUCG also accepted live evergreen (Christmas) trees from the public for planting in Lexington parks as part of Operation Rescue Tannenbaum.
US Mayor's National City Recycling Challenge -- This contest, which was held during October 1 through October 31, challenges communities across the country to collect and recycle aluminum beverage cans. The City of Lexington participated in this contest in 2007 for the second time using the theme of Yes We Can! and over 10,200,000 cans were collected for recycling in Fayette County during the contest. As part of this challenge, Fayette County public and private schools were invited to participate in a contest to see which schools could recycle the most aluminum cans per student. The twenty-one schools that participated in this contest collected over 123,000 cans and the top nine schools received monetary prizes. This contest was a joint initiative between the LFUCG and The Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community.
White Appliance Recycling -- During the 2007 calendar year, the Division of Waste Management arranged to have 153 tons of white appliances recycled through an outside vendor.
