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Join the Sustain Louisville team!
The Sustainability Specialist will assist the Executive Director and staff in implementation of city sustainability plans through administrative and programmatic support and public engagement. This position involves performing functions such as administrative support services, customer/citizen service operations, project planning, training, grant proposals and budget, and personnel activities. Additionally, it involved equitable community outreach and engagement.
The Sustainability Program Coordinator is responsible for leading, coordinating, and implementing initiatives and programs aimed at advancing projects and programs that advance sustainable development. The position requires strong knowledge of sustainability and involves research, data analysis, program development and coordination, and equitable stakeholder engagement.
Apply now! The deadline to apply for both positions is August 8. Full job descriptions, salary minimums, and applications portals below:
Full job descriptions, salary minimums, and applications portals below:
Mayor Greenberg and the OS announced the extension of the Solarize Program during the Mayor’s Weekly Press Conference on Tuesday, July 29. The new deadline to enroll in Solarize Louisville is Sunday, August 18.
Due to the overwhelming interest and positive responses the Solarize Louisville program has received, Louisville Metro Government (LMG) has decided to extend the deadline to apply. Solarize Louisville installers offer a 12-18% discount from vetted installers Icon Solar Power and Pure Power Solar, ensuring that participants receive the best possible value for their investment in solar energy. With the unfortunate rise of predatory solar companies in the region, Solarize Louisville seeks to protect consumers who are interested in investing in clean energy. In addition to these significant savings, participants in the Solarize Louisville program are also eligible for a 30% tax credit through the federal Inflation Reduction Act, further reducing the cost of transitioning to clean, renewable energy. To date, over 180 participants are powering homes with solar.
Learn more and sign up before the deadline by visiting SolarizeLouisville.com.
Mayor Greenberg shakes hands with Sharene Camp, a Solarize Louisville participant, who shared her experiences with solar during the weekly press briefing.
 The OS launched Louisville's first Plastic Free July campaign this year! We highlighted residents and businesses are promoting plastic-free and/or reusable behaviors by collecting "sustainable selfies" and shouting out restaurants on our social media pages.
We partnered with Beyond Plastics Louisville, a local chapter of the Beyond Plastics movement that raises awareness about plastic pollution and promotes alternatives to single-use plastics, to create a Plastic Free Resource Guide on the official city website that will continue to provide educational resources about plastic pollution and how to reduce dependence on plastic. Beyond Plastics Louisville also hosted a free screening of the documentary “We’re All Plastic People Now” at the Highlands-Shelby Park Library.
In addition to Beyond Plastics, we have collaborated with the Kentucky Restaurant Association, Louisville Metro Department of Health & Wellness (LMPHW), and Councilmembers Khalil Batshon and Betsy Ruhe to develop multilingual flyers for restaurants that encourage customers to reduce plastic waste that will be distributed by health inspectors.
Our team's sustainable selfies!
On July 16, we joined Mayor Greenberg during the Mayor’s Weekly Press Conference to announce the proclamation of July being Plastic Free Month in Louisville. The Mayor, OS Executive Director Sumedha Rao, and Pam Raidt from Beyond Plastic Louisville spoke about the harmful effects of plastic pollution as well as the power citizens have to reduce waste and make sustainable change. Representatives and collaborators from Metro Council, Louisville Metro Waste Management District, LMPHW, and Brightside were also present.
Since July 1, in addition to positive community feedback, Plastic Free July in Louisville has been featured in multiple media stories, demonstrating the reach of the campaign. OS looks forward to continued collaboration with partners and the community to reduce plastic waste in Louisville!
The best way to prevent West Nile virus is to use repellent, wear long-sleeves, and take steps to treat and prevent your surrounds from mosquitos.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) has found mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus in surveillance traps in three more ZIP codes: 40202, 40212 and 40215. To help prevent infection and reduce the mosquito population, mosquito fogging took place this week in the areas of Portland, Downtown Louisville and Churchill Downs. Earlier this month, positive mosquitoes were found in the neighborhoods of Park DuValle, California and Old Louisville.
After mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus, fogging occurs within the next 7 to 10 business days, weather permitting. Fogging occurs in the early morning or early evening hours. The Department of Public Health and Wellness uses an ultra-low volume fogging machine that disperses an insecticide that is very low in toxicity and odor. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Kentucky Department of Agriculture recognize the product as safe to use without posing unreasonable risks to human health.
Though West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes this year, so far, no human cases have been reported in Jefferson County.
“No matter what ZIP code you live in, we encourage you to protect you and your family from mosquitoes,” said Louisville’s Chief Health Strategist Connie Mendel.
To check if your area will be fogged visit the department’s website or call the mosquito hotline, 502-574-6641. To make a complaint about mosquitos in your neighborhood call Metro311 by dialing 311 or 502-574-5000.
To learn more about how to prevent mosquito bites and breeding grounds, click here.
Graphic from the Louisville Tree Plan website: https://www.louisvilletreeplan.org/about-louisville-trees.html
On March 28, Trees Louisville, Louisville Metro Government, and Urban Canopy LLC announced the development of Louisville's Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP), a strategic plan to improve a community's urban forest. An urban forest refers to all the trees in a city's boundary, whether they are in a city owned park, a privately owned home, or anywhere else. The amount of land shaded by trees is referred to as the tree canopy. In Louisville, 39% of the city is shaded by trees. Learn more about Louisville's tree canopy.
Louisville's tree canopy will expand with funding from the Forest Service grant.
The UFMP is created by assessing the current health and distribution of Louisville's trees and by engaging with residents, stakeholders, and the community at large to determine needs, set goals, and provide recommendations for the steps needed to achieve those goals.
Take the online survey by August 26th to influence the Louisville Tree Plan. Learn more about the UFMP process and how to get involved!
The kNOw Waste Recycle Right Program educates residents on proper recycling methods.
Recycling can seem confusing, and there’s often debate within households about whether something should go in the bin. That is where kNOw Waste Louisville’s Recycle Right Program can help. Since recycling is local, it’s important to learn what is accepted in your community rather than searching online. In Louisville, make sure to recycle these:
- Empty plastic bottles and containers from your kitchen, laundry, and bathroom.
- Empty metal cans, foil pans and wrap.
- Empty glass bottles and jars.
- Newspaper, magazines, mail, paper cups, and flattened cardboard.
- Empty food and drink cartons.
But with the endless amount of packaging types these days, residents are still often left with questions. So, instead it’s worth considering what is most detrimental to the recycling process and should definitely NOT be recycled at home:
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Plastic bags and plastic wrap get caught in the machinery at the sorting facility. Instead, recycle at participating stores. And recycle items loosely and not tied up in plastic bags! (Shredded paper is an exception.)
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Foam carryout and packaging materials are not able to be recycled here in Louisville, and they can cause litter when broken and blown off the sorting line. The only option is to put foam materials in the trash.
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Hazardous items, like batteries, can spark fires at the recycling facility. Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste properly at the Haz Bin at 7501 Grade Lane.
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Containers with large amounts of food or liquid contaminate other material. Containers don’t have to be squeaky clean – empty is fine.
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Bulky rigid plastic items such as laundry baskets, storage bins, and toys can jam equipment designed for sorting smaller items.
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Cords, strings, and chains can be dangerous to workers and the equipment at the sorting facility.
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The Recycle Right Team found several houses last week with scrap metal in their household recycling cart – curtain rods, screen windows, plant holders, and a light fixture! These items are not accepted with household recycling and can be detrimental at the sorting facility. Recycle at a scrap metal facility or at a Pop-Up Drop-Off event!
The Recycle Right Program brings feedback about residential recycling delivered right to their recycling cart. The educational program is designed to reduce recycling contamination and increase the quality of recycled materials so they are more valuable and more new products can be made from them. Leaving “oops” tags on recycling carts with these contaminants and providing positive feedback to those with only good recyclable materials is one of the most effective ways to reduce contamination. And it gets neighbors talking about recycling!
Since the program was fully implemented in November 2023, over 13,000 “Oops” and “Way to Know” tags have been attached to recycling carts all over Louisville/Jefferson County. So far, the program has shown to reduce the top two contaminants – plastic bags and bagged recycling – by 9%! After receiving feedback, an average of 66% of residents receive a “Way to Know” tag – an increase of 11%!
By educating residents at their cart, they get real time feedback and receive detailed information about what can and can’t be recycled! Learn more about this program at Louisvilleky.gov/RecycleRight.
OS was also proud to participate in other activities and events this month to advance and elevate sustainability:
- OS participated in efforts to bring #SundanceToLouisville, making the case to integrate Louisville’s and Sundance’s sustainability goals and efforts.
- OS participated in the meeting with Heather Boushey, White House Council of Economic Advisors, to express gratitude to the federal government for historic investments in sustainable infrastructure through the Inflation Reduction Act.
- OS participated in LG&E’s Demand Side Management advisory group meetings, to explore more opportunities for advancing energy efficiency and reducing costs
- OS continued participation in the Louisville Urban Forestry Management Plan workshops.
- OS hosted a public meeting to share the results of the Partial Municipalization Study.
- OS participated in the launch of the REBECCA Tech Hub consortium.
- Join Brightside on Saturday, August 3 at 11:00 AM at Trellis Brewing for this month's Sweep & Sip! Volunteers can register here: Brightside Louisville Sweep & Sip | LouisvilleKY.gov.
- The Louisville Sustainability Council will host Green Drinks with River Fields at Upland Jeffersonville on Wednesday, August 14 at 6:00 PM. Learn more at Green Drinks — Louisville Sustainability Council.
- Registration is open for Food In Neighborhoods' The People's Summit on Food Systems and Urban Agriculture: Food Vision 2030. The People’s Summit includes local tours on August 16-18 and a full-day conference on September 13, 2024. Register today at The People's Summit on Food Systems and Urban Agriculture: Food Vision 2030 Registration.
- The West End Farmers Market returns on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 946 S 25th St, Louisville, KY 40210 for a fun-filled day of fresh produce, local vendors, and community vibes. Come out and support local farmers while enjoying live music and delicious food.
- Why State Climate Plans Prioritize Upgrades to Homes and Buildings (RMI)
- Solarize Louisville Gets Extended, Deadline Pushed Forward Into August (LEO)
- Mayor Greenberg launches new initiative to promote an eco-friendly community (WAVE3)
- MSD ramping up effort to squelch 'unbearable' odor that hovers over Louisville's urban neighborhoods (WDRB)
- 'Total nightmare' | Officials warn about solar scammers targeting Louisville homeowners (WDRB)
- Why Did Louisville Just Start Its Own Department of Transportation (LEO)
- Kentucky nonprofit supports Louisville’s West End with farmers market (Spectrum)
- Geothermal tech could help Louisville lower energy costs and emission (Courier Journal)
- PFAS in Louisville drinking water levels of forever chemicals (Courier Journal)
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