Mark Westlund: Wealth of Information Now Available

Have you ever wondered what to do with your half-empty paint cans, how to plant a tree in front of your building, or what to do when you see a car that's trailing a noxious plume of exhaust down Van Ness Avenue?

You can find answers to these questions and more at the SF Department of the Environment's new website, www.sfenvironment.com. We've compiled a complete list of environmental services provided by the City - and because there are so many municipal, state and federal agencies that provide environmental services we've conveniently grouped information by type of service, not simply by the agency's name.

For instance, to find out about that exhaust-spewing car, you would go to the www.sfenvironment.com homepage, click on "Environmental Services," select "Air Quality" from the menu options, then discover straightaway that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has a hotline for reporting dirty vehicles: 1-800-EXHAUST.

If web surfing isn't your thing, don't worry. We've also put together a print version of the directory, SF Environment's Guide to San Francisco Environmental Services.

Both the website and the printed guide list regional environmental non-profit agencies, museums and educational facilities, including volunteer opportunities. Topics cover the environmental gamut from air quality to zoning.

The website includes a wealth of other helpful features, including a directory of San Francisco's environmental legislation, information about department programs, a calendar of upcoming environmental events sponsored by the City and agendas for upcoming Commission on the Environment meetings.

Also, in an effort to provide as much useful information as possible, we have included a directory of "green" products. You can find out where to buy non-toxic cleaning products, recycled paper, wood with an environmental seal of approval, organic vegetables - and even find out which investment firms offer socially-responsible investment opportunities.

My favorite section of www.sfenvironment.com is the "Environmental Victories" section. Here, we brag a bit about some of the good things that we've been able to accomplish as a city.

Did you know that since 1997, we've reduced overall pesticide use in San Francisco by more than 50 percent, and that we've cut out all of the most toxic pesticides? Or that we have 10 state-of-the-art "green" building-projects underway, which will set the example for other cities to follow?

And how 'bout our groundbreaking mercury pollution reduction efforts? Did you know that San Francisco's recent ordinance banning mercury fever thermometers - they're a leading source of mercury pollution in the bay when disposed of improperly - is the basis for similar legislation now in the works on the state and national levels?

You can find out about all of these victories, and several others that I'll leave for you to discover on your own, at www.sfenvironment.com.

Not to be immodest, but San Francisco has a lot to be proud of. Working together, we are leading the nation on many environmental fronts, and can lay the groundwork for healthier, "greener" tomorrows.

After all, our city functions like a natural ecosystem. Our citizens are wonderfully diverse, and individual city departments, such as Public Works, Solid Waste, and Environmental Health Services, provide services that each is uniquely suited to deliver.

We at SF Environment hope that you will take advantage of the information available at www.sfenvironment.com, and in our Guide to San Francisco Environmental Services to gain full access to the wide range of services our City has to offer.

"Preserving and improving our environment is a cooperative effort that involves all San Franciscans," said Mayor Willie Brown. "San Franciscans should be proud of the environmental legacy that we have inherited from our ancestors. We must honor that legacy by making sure the incredible quality of life we enjoy today will still be available to future generations of San Franciscans."

Mark Westlund coordinates public outreach for SF Environment, the City's Department of the Environment. SF Environment's Guide to San Francisco Environmental Services is available free of charge. To obtain a copy, visit SF Environment's civic center office at 11 Grove St. To have a copy mailed, call (415) 554-6390 or write: Guide to SF Environmental Services, Department of the Environment, 11 Grove St., SF, CA 94102.