City of Spokane Goes Green with EnviroStars Certification

The City of Spokane’s Fleet Services Department has been recognized as a certified “Spokane EnviroStar” for its work to protect the environment by properly managing and reducing hazardous materials and waste. The department sought the certification after moving into the new Spokane Central Service Center, which was designed to comply with LEED green building criteria. The City’s fleet of 1,500 vehicles is maintained at the station.

“As the City of Spokane proceeds with more than $300 million in work to improve the health of the Spokane River, it just makes sense to follow through with other practices that protect our river and drinking water supplies,” says Gene Jakubczak, the City’s Fleet Services Director. “Throughout the City, we are working to be financially and environmentally responsible, and this is one more demonstration of that commitment.”

The City’s Fleet Services operation is the first non-business entity to seek and receive the certification. The department received 5-star certification, which is the highest level of certification provided by the Spokane EnviroStars program.

EnviroStars is a voluntary program designed to encourage good environmental stewardship. Statewide, more than 850 businesses are certified as environmentally responsible under the program. In Spokane, the partners sponsoring the program include the Spokane River Forum, Spokane Aquifer Joint Board, Spokane County, the City of Spokane, the Spokane Riverkeeper, Spokane Regional Clean Air, Spokane Regional Health District, and the Washington State Department of Ecology.