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Clean Ocean Businesses <br />^ Program focuses on reducing from auto repair shops, other types of vehicle service facilities, and food <br />service facilities. Business were educated and required to implement the pollution prevention methods in <br />the City's Best Management Practices. <br />Jntegrated Pest Management <br />The Integrated Pest Management Program implements the City's Integrated Pest Management Policy (Pesticide <br />Use Policy) and works with City Departments to reduce and eliminate pesticide use and develop alternative pest <br />control techniques. The program also reaches out to the community to educate citizens on the least-toxic types of <br />pest control <br />CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS <br />Mission <br />The City of Austin's Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI) exists to help the greater Austin region achieve <br />economic prosperity, social justice, and ecological health -the highest possible quality of life in the best possible <br />environment. SCI programs and policies will respond effectively to the real limits of ecological systems while <br />fostering the unprecedented opportunities of a democratic society in which all people are able to develop to their <br />fullest potential. To these ends, the SCI should become a valuable resource for City staff and for area residents <br />by advocating, creating tools, and providing expertise concerning sustainability -from the global to the local <br />perspective. <br />Steps You Can Take To Promote sustainability <br />Individuals play a vital role in guiding acommunity -and the world -towards sustainability. The day to day <br />choices each of us makes affect civic life, energy use, people's health, biodiversity, local prosperity, the global <br />climate, etc. We may not always clearly see the impacts of our choices- as citizens, family members, workers, <br />and consumers - on all of these different issues, but they are there. <br />There is no shortage of information, especially on the Internet, that can help individuals to learn how they can <br />reduce the negative impacts and increase the positive impacts of their lifestyles. <br />The links below are organized into categories appropriate to individuals and households in Austin. <br />Building and Construction <br />Building or remodeling a house? Or maybe just painting a room? Whatever the size of your project, you can <br />choose materials that are healthier for you to live with and are easier on the environment. <br />^ Re-use and recycle by shopping at the Austin RE-store.- a building materials recycling center.. See <br />www.re-store.com <br />^ See the website of Austin Energy's Green Building Program for lots of helpful information. Go to <br />www.ci.austin.tx.us/greenbuilder <br />Food <br />You need it everyday. It's production and distribution has a huge impact on communities and the environment - <br />and your health! So avoid pesticides, save the soil, support local farms, grow your own, and enjoy fresher, more <br />nutritious, better tasting food -with help from the following websites: , <br />^ Austin Organic Gardeners - www.main.org/aog <br />^ Local Growers and Farmers' Markets - www.main.org/aog/local <br />^ National Organic Consumers Association - www.purefood.org <br />^ Sustainable Agriculture Program at Texas A&M - sustain.able.tamu.edu <br />^ Sustainable Food Center/Austin Community Gardens - www.sustainablefoodcenter.org/ <br />