What we do Last updated or reviewed on July 3, 2024 The City of Asheville has a strong record and long-standing commitment to sustainability. The Sustainability Department was created in 2008 to integrate sustainable design, technology, and practice into municipal operations, infrastructure, and services. The Sustainability Department is responsible for incorporating City Council’s Strategic Goals and City Resolutions pertaining to sustainability within the organization. Doing the Work Listed below are the plans, assessments, and policies that guide the work of the Sustainability Department. Guiding Documents Municipal Climate Action Plan The Sustainability Management Plan Climate Resiliency Assessment Moving to 100 Percent: Renewable Energy Transition Pathways Analysis for Buncombe County and the City of Asheville Policies 4% annual carbon reduction goal for municipal operations 2% annual carbon reduction goal for municipal operations Food policy action plan 50% municipal solid waste reduction goal by 2035 100% renewable energy goal for municipal operations by 2030 Climate Emergency and Emergency Mobilization Effort to Restore a Safe Climate Asheville Community Carbon Footprint In 2021 the Sustainability Department worked with a student from the Lenoir Rhyne Masters of Sustainability Studies program to measure the carbon footprint of the city at large. The carbon emissions from 2019 for the city of Asheville are summed up in this infographic. Text only version Community Partners The Sustainability Department partners with the following local nonprofits to implement community programs: Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council Asheville Greenworks Bountiful Cities Green Built Alliance Connect Address 70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801 Mailing Address PO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802 Phone Number 828-259-5558 Email Address bherring@ashevillenc.gov Business HoursMonday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.Sustainability DirectorBridget Herring Related Services Dispose of large, seasonal or unusual items Information about disposing of large or unusual items such as furniture, household hazardous waste, or appliances. As well as instructions for brush, leaves, or Christmas trees. Recycling guidelines Information on what can be recycled, how to prepare items for collection, and composting. Explore Related ServicesRelated Projects Electrify ABC Electrify Asheville-Buncombe County is a pilot program supporting home energy efficiency and electrification upgrades as one way to move toward the City supported goal of powering Buncombe county with 100% renewable energy by 2042. Elevate AVL Elevate AVL engagement agents and advisory committee members are working with community members to co-create resources and strategies to build neighborhood resilience. The project seeks to learn from Asheville communities to inform neighborhood-led and city-supported initiatives to develop shared resources and ideas to thrive in a changing climate. Single-Use Plastic Reduction Asheville City Council has directed the Sustainability Department to take a phased approach to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic. Explore Related ProjectsSustainability News It’s pawpaw season – and the Asheville Edibles Map can show you where to find them Posted on September 12, 2024 by Christy Edwards Pawpaw season is here! Find, pick, peel and eat this fleeting fruit for a taste of the tropics right here in Appalachia. Did you know the Pawpaw is North America’s largest native fruit? No matter what time of year it is, the Asheville Edibles Map provides great ideas for locating and [...] September is Emergency Preparedness Month: Blue skies actions help to build resiliency for neighborhoods and families Posted on September 12, 2024September 12, 2024 by Christy Edwards As changes in climate continue to impact our local weather patterns, the Asheville region expects more frequent and more intense weather events. There are actions we can take individually and as a community that will help build our resilience during emergency events and that will also support in “blue skies” times. Blue-skies actions, meaning the good [...] Asheville Asks: Who are these people measuring trees? What are they doing? Posted on September 11, 2024September 12, 2024 by Kim Miller City of Asheville launches Tree Inventory as part of Urban Forest Master Plan Explore Sustainability News
Dispose of large, seasonal or unusual items Information about disposing of large or unusual items such as furniture, household hazardous waste, or appliances. As well as instructions for brush, leaves, or Christmas trees.
Recycling guidelines Information on what can be recycled, how to prepare items for collection, and composting.
Electrify ABC Electrify Asheville-Buncombe County is a pilot program supporting home energy efficiency and electrification upgrades as one way to move toward the City supported goal of powering Buncombe county with 100% renewable energy by 2042.
Elevate AVL Elevate AVL engagement agents and advisory committee members are working with community members to co-create resources and strategies to build neighborhood resilience. The project seeks to learn from Asheville communities to inform neighborhood-led and city-supported initiatives to develop shared resources and ideas to thrive in a changing climate.
Single-Use Plastic Reduction Asheville City Council has directed the Sustainability Department to take a phased approach to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic.
It’s pawpaw season – and the Asheville Edibles Map can show you where to find them Posted on September 12, 2024 by Christy Edwards Pawpaw season is here! Find, pick, peel and eat this fleeting fruit for a taste of the tropics right here in Appalachia. Did you know the Pawpaw is North America’s largest native fruit? No matter what time of year it is, the Asheville Edibles Map provides great ideas for locating and [...]
September is Emergency Preparedness Month: Blue skies actions help to build resiliency for neighborhoods and families Posted on September 12, 2024September 12, 2024 by Christy Edwards As changes in climate continue to impact our local weather patterns, the Asheville region expects more frequent and more intense weather events. There are actions we can take individually and as a community that will help build our resilience during emergency events and that will also support in “blue skies” times. Blue-skies actions, meaning the good [...]
Asheville Asks: Who are these people measuring trees? What are they doing? Posted on September 11, 2024September 12, 2024 by Kim Miller City of Asheville launches Tree Inventory as part of Urban Forest Master Plan
