Las Vegas, NV Using Recycled Materials in City Operations
Type: Policy
Status: In effect
Source File: http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/sustaininglasvegas/16108.htm
Description:
Using Materials From Recycled Products
From recycled paper products for memos to recycled antifreeze for vehicles, city departments are using recycled products for everyday operations.
Trails
Currently under construction is the Centennial Hills Park Phase 3 project which features portions of the park trail system in a chat material rather than concrete or asphalt surface. The chat is a waste material from other-purpose rock crushing operations. Also, many of our hard surface walks/trails in the park are lined with decomposed granite, thereby allowing a reduction in the width of the actual hard surface pavement and providing an alternative walking surface (which also reduces heat absorption).
Buildings
The recently completed Centennial Hills Community Center was designed to a LEED Certified level and includes such features as on-site storm water management and treatment.
Fleet
In 2007, the city began using a recycled antifreeze product for all city vehicles. When a vehicle is serviced, the antifreeze is drained and stored in a large drum. The drum is picked up by the vendor and the antifreeze is cleaned and returned to the city. This process has benefited the city in two substantial ways. Instead of carrying five different types of antifreeze, Fleet Services carries only one. The recycled antifreeze is saving the city money, costing the city less than $4 a gallon, compared to the “new” antifreeze which ran up to $20 a gallon, depending on the type.
Paper
Early this summer, several city departments began to change from 100% virgin paper to paper with 50% post-consumer (recycled) content. Planning & Development, Building & Safety and Finance are just three of the departments that made the change. Each ton of recycled paper the city orders that displaces a ton of virgin paper benefits the environment by:
- Reducing total energy consumption by 27%,
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 47%,
- Reducing particulate emissions by 28%,
- Reducing wastewater by 33%,
- Reducing solid waste by 54% and
- Reducing wood use by 100%.