Community Corner
Watsonville Green Businesses Honored
Four green businesses from Watsonville were honored at Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
On Tuesday, December 13th, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors chambers room was buzzing with excitement and gratitude for the hard work of nineteen, County-wide Certified Green Businesses that were recognized for their sustainability efforts, four of which included proud Watsonville representatives. This regional appreciation is just one of the many perks of joining the Monterey Bay Area Green Business Program. The certification program is a successful partnership between environmental agencies, utilities, and nonprofit organizations that assist, recognize and promote businesses that volunteer to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. To be certified green, participants must be in compliance with all regulations and meet program standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution, and minimizing waste. Motivated businesses and agencies are offered an easy-to-use framework for improving environmental performance. The City of Watsonville is both a proud partner and a certified Green Business.
"My business participates in this voluntary program because it helps protect our environment," explained Maria Juana Peña, owner of Watsonville's Fruteria Quetzal. For Ms. Peña, the decision to join the certification program made sense both for the environment and was a sound economic decision for her business. "I have seen cost savings from increasing recycling and reducing waste. Disposing trash is an expensive service while mixed recycling in the City of Watsonville is free."
The recipients for Tuesday's acknowledgement include:
Watsonville's Green Businesses go above and beyond when it comes to protecting our local environmental quality by shifting to ecologically-motivated best practices that they incorporate everyday. Our Watsonville Certified Green Businesses are on the cutting edge of adaptation, finding innovative and creative ways to address gaps in their processes to attain their conservation goals. Examples of projects undertaken by certified businesses include changed printing practices, incorporating green cleaning products, installing energy efficient lighting, upgrading windows and door frames to reduce heating and cooling costs and heat loss, implementing green purchasing plans and training staff on best practices, and affixing low-flow water devices for plumbing and landscape needs.
"I recommend this program to other businesses because it helps reduce pollution and preserves our community for future families and children to enjoy. The Green Business Program requires your business to implement new practices that are environmentally friendly and even though it can be hard at first, it can be achieve if you are determined. "
Learn more about how to get support for your free certification by contacting City of Watsonville Green Business Coordinator, Hilda Peralta, at hilda.peralta@cityofwatsonville.org and visit Watsonville Green Business Certification Program for more information.
