If you work for a public agency and are seeking a voluntary environmental program that encourages businesses not only to comply with regulations but to go beyond them, you have come to the right place.

The Bay Area Green
Business Program
is a cooperative effort that assists businesses and public agencies to come into compliance with all environmental regulations, and take steps to prevent pollution and conserve resources. Certified green businesses and public agencies may display the Green Business logo on their premises and in their advertising. The Green Business Program markets the logo so that consumers can identify environmentally responsible businesses. The public's growing environmental awareness represents purchasing power that can motivate businesses to become "green."

The Bay Area Green Business Program was developed by the Hazardous Waste Management Facility Allocation Committee of the Association of Bay Area Governments. The Committee championed the Program as a way to promote pollution prevention and resource conservation. The Program provides businesses with clear consolidated information and technical assistance on:

• Complying with environmental regulations (including those pertaining to air quality, wastewater discharge, storm water management, chemical storage and handling, and hazardous waste management); and

 
• Going beyond compliance to adopt environmentally-sound practices in four areas - energy efficiency, water conservation, solid and hazardous waste reduction, and pollution prevention.

Motivated to Be Green
Until recently, most environmental initiatives targeted big businesses. The Bay Area Green Business Program chose to work with small- and medium-sized businesses. Small operators do not have dedicated environmental specialists on staff and are often not in a position to hire consultants. They tend to avoid seeking help from government and therefore miss opportunities to run environmentally-responsible operations. The Program motivates participation by:

• Helping businesses to develop a positive, proactive relationship with environmental agency staff who provide regulatory, pollution prevention, and resource conservation expertise.
  
  
• Coordinating outreach so that the businesses receive consistent rather than conflicting information. Program materials cover all applicable environmental issues.
  
  
• Recognizing businesses at a public ceremony where they receive their Green Business certificate and window decal.
  
  
• Promoting the Program to encourage the public to choose Certified green businesses.