Environmental Initiatives

8th and Harbour Bioswale Richmond Greenway 9.29.17

News & Events

Richmond's Amended Food Ware Ordinance 



The Richmond City Council amended Richmond's Food Ware Ordinance in May 2018 banning the use and sale of plastic straws and stirrers. Non-plastic alternative straws will be provided to customers upon request. In addition, utensils and lids were added to the list of disposable food ware that must be recyclable or compostable. 

Please visit the Food Ware Ordinance web page for more information.

Best, Great, Not Allowed

Climate Action Plan Dashboard and Community Meeting - October 18, 2018

flyer thing

The City of Richmond Environmental and Health Initiatives Division has launched a Climate Action Plan (CAP) Open Data Dashboard and community members are invited to provide feedback on the platform. There will be a community meeting to present the platform and receive feedback on October 18, 2018 at 6:00 PM in the Bermuda Room at 403 Civic Center Plaza (Richmond Memorial Auditorium). Comments may be submitted through the feedback form until October 25th.

Adopted in 2016, Richmond’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) outlines goals and strategies for reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change on public health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and public spaces in our community. The dashboard serves to monitor progress towards reaching the CAP goals, inform policy decisions, and provide data to the community.

New Bulky Item Pick-up Pilot Program for Multi-Family Complexes with 3 to 19 Units!

Multi-family complexes 3 and 19 units can participate in a new pilot program for the curbside collection of household bulky items. Participation in this program is on a first-come first-served basis. Interested residents are recommended to contact their building owner or manager to schedule a pick-up. Collections may be scheduled for individual units, or combined to serve multiple units on the same day.

Program Guidelines:

  • Program services multi-family dwellings with 3-19 units
  • Property manager or owner must complete a participation form and call (510) 262-7100 to schedule a collection
  • Two items per collection per apartment unit per year at no cost
  • May substitute five E-waste items for one bulky item
  • No commercial-sized appliances, hazardous materials, or construction and demolition materials

To schedule a pick-up contact Republic Services at (510) 262-7100.

For more information about residential bulky item pick-up programs visit, www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1722/Bulky-Items

Richmond MFD Bulky Item Flyer
Richmond MFD Bulky Item Flyer

Free Home Solar Systems for Qualifying Richmond Residents

Richmond homeowners can qualify for a free solar program funded by the City of Richmond and State of California, through the non-profit GRID Alternatives. The City of Richmond and GRID Alternatives are excited to provide free solar systems to income-qualifying homes in Richmond and North Richmond, funded by the City of Richmond and State of California. GRID Alternatives is a national non-profit organization that makes solar energy accessible to homeowners who need the savings the most, while providing hands-on solar installation training. You could save 60-90% on your electric bill and help our community reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by participating in the program.

To be eligible, Richmond and North Richmond residents must live in their own home and make less than 80% of area median income (income limits are included in the flyer below).

More information about the program can be found at www.gridalternatives.org/ or by calling GRID Alternatives at (510) 731-1333. Residents may also contact the City of Richmond at (510) 621-1541.

GRID 2018

Air Pollution Complaints (BAAQMD)

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District receives over 12,000 air pollution complaints each year from members of the public. Community members are keenly aware of air pollution events and often provide the first warning of air quality problems. Satisfactory resolution of complaints is one of the most important objectives of Air District staff.

Examples of complaints include dust or chemical air pollutants emitted by industrial plants, refineries, neighborhood businesses, gas station nozzles, idling trucks, locomotives and buses; and smoke from agricultural fires, controlled burns, non-cooking backyard fires and outdoor trash burning.

To file a complaint, complete an online complaint form or call BAAQMD's 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-800-334-ODOR (6367).

For more information, visit BAAQMD online.

BAAQMD Complaint Page

City Launches Climate-Smart Cities Tool

On Wednesday, November 8, the Trust for Public Land, City staff, and partnering  community-based organizations celebrated the launch of the new Climate-Smart Cities Tool. The tool launch event included presentations from the Technical Advisory Committee, and a hands-on training in the Emergency Operation Center at City Hall.

The online, publicly available Climate-Smart Cities Decision Support Tool integrates detailed mapping data, climate change analytics, and community input to guide park and green infrastructure investments. The Decision Support Tool seeks to democratize resiliency data and tools by making these resources available to community leaders and community-based organizations to identify and implement multi-benefit green infrastructure projects such as parks, bio-swales, and biking or pedestrian trails.

The Trust for Public Land developed Richmond’s Climate-Smart Cities Tool in collaboration with the City of Richmond and a number of community-based organizations. Richmond is California’s second Climate-Smart City with TPL and the first in Northern California.

Climate Smart City Tool

Energize Richmond: Energy Efficiency Rebates Now Available for Local Small/Medium Businesses & Multi-family Properties


Energize Richmond is the new City program aiming to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions in the Richmond community. The City is partnering with the East Bay Energy Watch Partnership (EBEW) (an energy efficiency rebate program funded by utility ratepayers at PG&E and MCE) and MCE to provide expanded rebates and services to small and medium sized Richmond businesses and multi-family properties.  These programs provide great opportunities to control energy use, decrease energy costs, and meet climate action goals.
  1. Small Business
  2. Multi-family Property
Energize Richmond will enable business owners to take control of their energy costs by offering:

  • PG&E and MCE rebates to help Richmond businesses upgrade their lighting, refrigeration, and HVAC;
  • Free no-obligation customized analysis funded by PG&E and MCE to help your business save energy and money;
  • Additional incentives from the City of Richmond to cover out of pocket costs up to $6,000.
Contact EBEW at 800-576-6405 or eastbayenergywatch@dnvgl.com. For more information, please visit:  www.californiabestprogram.com
Energize Richmond Small Business Flyer English
Energize Richmond multi family flyer English

Richmond Climate Action Plan Now Available


The Richmond Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a roadmap for how the City will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change on public health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and public spaces in our community. The CAP will support the community’s goals and policies identified in the City’s General Plan 2030. The CAP  also features health equity and climate justice as important aspects of the document framework, consistent with City’s Health in All Policies Strategy.

The Final CAP and all appendices can be accessed on the City's Climate Action webpage.

Richmond Climate Action Plan News Release


draft cap cover

HERO and CaliforniaFIRST - Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs Now Available for Richmond Homeowners

Richmond homeowners are now eligible to participate in two Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs: HERO and CaliforniaFIRST. PACE financing enables homeowners to make energy- and water-efficiency improvements and pay for them through their property tax bill. Property owners repay the assessment over 5 to 20 years and the interest is tax-deductible. Homeowners can use PACE financing to renovate projects that can increase their property values, lower their monthly utility bills, and contribute to making our community more energy independent.

hero pace logo small
california first pace logo small
About Us
The City of Richmond Environmental Initiatives team promotes systems and policy changes that support the development of healthy and sustainable neighborhoods. The Division collaborates with the community and other city departments to implement actions identified in the Climate Action Plan, Health in All Policies Strategy Document, and the Energy and Climate Change Element and Community Health and Wellness Element of the Richmond General Plan 2030. The team aims to build the City and community's capacity to improve and promote sustainability and health equity.


biking with bart overhead