The Metro Council has approved a plan to further reduce the agency's environmental footprint. The new plan, addressing greenhouse gas emissions, toxics use, waste generation, water consumption and habitat, aims to transform Metro's internal government operations into a sustainable business model largely by year 2025.
Key goals, with most slated for completion by 2025 – or 2050, in the case of greenhouse gas emissions – include the following:
- greenhouse gas emissions – reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 2008 levels
- toxics – eliminate the use or emissions of persistent bioaccumulative toxics and other priority toxic and hazardous substances
- waste – recover all waste for recycling or composting and reduce overall generation of waste
- water – reduce water use to 50 percent below 2008 levels
- habitat – ensure that Metro’s parks, trails and developed properties positively contribute to healthy, functioning urban ecosystems and watershed health and that its natural areas reflect healthy, functioning ecosystems.
Metro's plan, which includes nearly 100 actions to reach the listed goals, builds on current successes such as the Oregon Convention Center's LEED certification, the Oregon Zoo's composting of animal waste and the Metro Regional Center's use of 100 percent renewable power.
Read the Metro Sustainability Plan, and learn about other initiatives to reduce waste, conserve natural resources and curb greenhouse gas emissions on Metro's website.