The City Commission of Winter Park, Florida, with the encouragement of its citizen-volunteer Environmental Review Board, passed a Resolution in 2008 to “Pursue Measures to Become a Florida Green Local Government,” using criteria and standards developed by the Florida Green Building Coalition (www.floridagreenbuilding.org).

The Winter Park Green Button web site is designed as part of the City’s initiative to inform, educate, and advise the public on environmentally friendly practices and information that are not only beneficial to the environment and our community, but can also save money.

The Green Local Government concept focuses on local government taking actions to reduce energy consumption, waste, and pollution, along with increasing recycling in our community.

All citizens are encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle. There are a multitude of resources, and by making only minor changes in your lifestyle, you can easily lower your environmental impact and save money.

If you have informative links you would like to see added to the Green Button, please contact Troy Attaway, Public Works Director and Environmental Review Board Staff Liaison, at tattaway@cityofwinterpark.org.

Here are some ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle:

1. REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION - Change your thermostats settings when you aren’t at home. By turning the temperature up in the summer and down in the winter, you can save energy and lower your power bill significantly. A home energy audit can provide more detailed recommendations. Also, consider vehicles with lower fuel consumption.

2. REUSE - AVOID PLASTIC BAGS - Plastic bags are one of the worst offenders clogging our waterways and landfills. Recycle them at bins provided at neighborhood grocery stores. Better yet, take your own canvas bag when you shop for groceries and avoid using a plastic bag whenever you can. Bag yard waste in large paper bags (available at local hardware stores), and do not put recyclables in plastic bags, instead place loosely in recycle bins.

3. RECYCLE - Such things as plastic bottles & containers, all types of paper, and aluminum cans (the three most important recycle items) through Winter Park’s weekly recyclable pickup. For more information on scheduled service, what to recycle, or to get recycle bins, contact Waste Pro at 407-774-0800, or go to http://www.wasteprousa.com/locations/cf/winterpark/residential-recycling/