New! Pollution Prevention Training for Outdoor Surface Cleaners:
Pressure Washers and Window Washers

If you clean sidewalks, plazas, building exteriors, dumpster areas, drive-throughs, windows or other outdoor surfaces, OR if you contract for cleaning, new stormwater regulations apply to you. The building owner and the cleaner share responsibility for preventing polluted runoff. A 30 minute training video is available at: http://www.basmaa.org/

If you have questions about storm water regulation in Santa Cruz County please contact the Santa Cruz County Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program at 831-454-2160.

Publications in PDF format

Green Business Winter Newsletter 2009/10

Local Resources & Partners

City of Santa Cruz
County of Santa Cruz Sanitation District
Santa Cruz County Public Works, Recycling and Solid Waste
County of Santa Cruz Environmental Health Services
Monterey County Health Department Environmental Health Division
City of Scotts Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant
City of Watsonville
City of Monterey Solid Waste & Recycling Division
Ecology Action of Santa Cruz
Soquel Creek Water District
Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency
Monterey Regional Waste Management District
Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority

Other Green Business Programs

There are other Green Business Programs sprouting up everywhere!  Please visit their websites and frequent Green Businesses where you live, work and play.

In California
Sacramento Sustainable Business Program
San Francisco Bay Area Green Business Program, serving nine Bay Area Counties
San Diego Area Green Business Program
Santa Barabara County Green Business Program
Santa Monica City Green Business Program
Sonoma County "Sonoma Green Business" Program
Get it Green - A green living resource site geared toward helping to spread the word about environmental companies, their products, services and resources.

Outside of California
State of Hawaii
Colorado, Boulder County

Regional, State and National Resources

Business Environmental Network (BEN)
Provides Bay Area companies with cost-saving information, networking opportunities, guidelines.

California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)
Provides technical information on solid waste management, including information on markets for recyclable materials.

Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
Site provides guide to programs, policies and laws concerning the handling of hazardous wastes.

Earth 911
Provides access to both community-specific and national resources for help on everything from recycling, household hazardous waste, electronics recycling, to environmental education.

Energy Star Small Business Program
Energy Star is a federal program that seeks to improve environmental quality through the reduction in energy use. It provides technical support, educational information and energy-conservation guidance to small businesses.

Environmental Finance Center (EFC 9)
As the Western States Green Business Coordinator, EFC 9 is assisting jurisdictions throughout California and other states to organize and launch Green Business Programs.

Flex Your Power
Established in 2001 to promote energy efficiency, FYP is a state program that has a recently added a new feature, “Flex Your Power at the Pump,” that offers tips to help lower gasoline consumption.

GreenBiz.com
Online resource center for businesses looking for information on environmental practices, references to other green business websites, and government programs for businesses.

Our Water Our World
This Website has been developed to assist consumers in managing home and garden pests using less-toxic methods that help protect the environment.

Pacific Gas & Electric Energy Center
Offers technical assistance, training on energy conservation and efficiency, and information on incentive programs for businesses.

Small Business Energy Alliance
Provides lighting, air conditioning, refrigeration recommendations and state-subsidized retrofit grants to help small businesses in Napa, Marin, Sonoma, Solano and Lake counties conserve energy.

Western Regional Pollution Prevention Network (WRPPN)
Clearinghouse for links to information on P2 programs, organized by Region, Industry Sector and Services Offered.

Industry Specific Resources and Professional Associations

The Center for Clean Products and Clean Technologies (EERC)
Evaluates cleaner products for many industries.

Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair (CCAR-GreenLink)
National information clearinghouse to help automotive professionals save time and protect the environment.

EPA Region 9: Pollution Prevention for Auto Repair and Fleet Maintenance
Provides links to fact sheets and documents offering technical assistance in dealing with items such as Aqueous Parts Cleaning, Floor Cleanup and Oil Water Separartors.

Thimmakka
Works with ethnic restaurants to improve environmental performance of restaurants, and assists restaurants going through Bay Area Green Business Certification process.

Pacific Northwest P2 Resource Center (Industry Sectors/Business Assistance)
Features useful links to technical information pollution prevention for a wide variety of industry sectors, including Auto Repair, Food Processing, and Hospitality.

Printer’s National Environmental Assistance Center (PNEAC)
EPA and private industry partner effort offering compliance assistance and pollution prevention information.

Seafood Watch
A program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. We recommend which seafood to buy or avoid, helping consumers, restaurant owners and retailers to become advocates for environmentally friendly seafood.

Products, Services & Organizations

Green Business Camp
A one-day event in the San Francisco Bay Area that brings together small green business owners and entrepreneurs, who are passionate about creating positive environmental and social impact through their businesses and who are committed to successful business growth.

Extended Product Responsibility
Offers a product-oriented approach to environmental protection.

Sustainable Business Network
Offers articles that highlight individual sustainable businesses and overall trends in industry.