Sacramento Zoo's Green Team
The Zoo’s Green Team has expanded their message to encourage “greener” behavior from all staff, docents and volunteers. Green Team Goals for 2009
The Green Team has accomplished a lot since it's formation in 2003. There is an overall effort to reduce waste, conserve energy and create positive change here and with in our community. For 2009 we have some new goals to keep our momentum going. - Encourage public transportation for Zoo visitors
- Research watch recycling
- Increase bike-to-work day participation
- Have Gus, the Green Team mascot at all events
- Start to have booths at more events to promote green awareness
- Look into motion sensors for offices
- Invest in eco-friendly playground equipment
- Minimize vinyl banner usage and find an alternative
- Evaluate our usage of incandescent lights and switch over to more energy efficient fluorescent or LED bulbs
Current Recycling and Conservation Practices
Here is a small sample of the practices we are committed to following. Offices and Personal Work Areas - Recycle paper, plastics, batteries, printer cartridges, fluorescent bulbs, cell phones, styrofoam, CDs, DVDs, data storage disks and e-waste
- Uses 100% post-consumer recycled content in business cards and general letter head
- Use recycle content office supplies, paper for brochures, mailers and flyers
- Staff uses re-usable containers, cups and utensils in offices and turns off all lights and computers at night.
- Uses biodegradable trash bags
Concessions and Gift Store - Follows the Sustainable Seafood guidelines
- Recently switched over to sustainable food containers including biodegradable corn plastics and plates made from sugar cane fiber
- Offers condiments in containers not individual packets
- Offers fair trade items for sale and sells shade grown coffee
- Opened the more energy efficient Savannah Snacks
New Vet Hospital - Using re-usable materials when practical rather than disposables
- Uses mainly rechargable batteries for equipement
On-going Green Team Activities - Provide containers for recycling at on-site special fundraising events
- Expanded the Recycle Rummage Sale to twice a year, raising money for the Zoo’s recycling and conservation programs while keeping gently used items out of the landfill
- Collects eyeglasses, inkjet cartridges and cell phones with funds going towards conservation programs
- Bench Sponsorship program uses only benches made of recycled materials
- Banners are reused by animal care for cart covers and upcycled into durable tote bags
- Recycle Zoo maps and event programs
- Use the Green Team mascot, Gus and the logo to raise awareness at events and online
- Hosts a bike-to-work day for employees
- Offer 100% organic cotton tote bags and reusable aluminum water bottles for purchase
- Purchasing carbon offsets for air travel and Zoo vehicles
Green Members
One of our most sucessful projects is converting our Zoo Members to "Green" Members who only recieve Zoo news and renewals through email. In 2006 we started with 400 Green Members. We climbed to 1,865 in 2007 and 2,883 in 2008 and are hoping to surpass 3,500 Green Members in 2009! Each Green Member saves us $7.00 in printing and postage costs each year. Plus we save 4 postcards, 6 Maagizos, 3 envelopes and 6 letters worth of paper! That means we saved 746 pounds of paper in 2007 alone! Sign up to be a Green Member when you purchase your membership or renew, in person, online or through the mail. Already a member, but want to be Green? Call the Membership Department at (916) 808-5888 or email your Green Member request.
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