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Green Business and Industry
The City of Richmond is committed to supporting a green industry and workforce development to maximize economic and community benefits for Richmond Residents.
City and State Environmental Laws Applicable to Businesses
City website: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4657/Single-Use-Bag-Ordinance
Richmond Municipal Code: https://library.municode.com/ca/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=ARTIXHE_CH9.14SIEBAOR
Summary
- Prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic bags in retail establishments at the point of sale for all retail establishments except restaurants. This includes department stores, clothing stores, liquor stores, book stores, specialty stores, drug stores, convenience stores, etc. Note: Restaurants, take-out food establishments, or any other businesses that receive their revenue primarily from the sale of food cooked or otherwise prepared at the establishment would be exempt from the ordinance
- Requires retail establishments to charge to all customers a minimum of ten ($0.10) cents for each paper or reusable bag distributed at the point of sale
City Website: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4656/Richmonds-Food-Ware-Ordinance
Richmond Municipal Code: https://library.municode.com/ca/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=ARTIXHE_CH9.17FOWAOR
Summary
- Retail businesses cannot sell styrofoam food ware
- Retail, food businesses, or transient lodging cannot use or sell plastic straws or stirrers
- Food businesses can only use recyclable or compostable disposable food ware
- Food businesses can charge customers for the increased costs of recyclable or compostable disposable food ware
West Contra Costa County Solid Waste Authority's (RecycleMore) Website: https://recyclemore.com/business/organics-and-recycle-law-sb-1383/
Richmond Municipal Code: https://library.municode.com/ca/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=ARTIXHE_CH9.20SOWA
Summary
- Requires accounts to subscribe to recycling and organics services
- Requires providing organics and recycling containers for customers in self-service area. Containers must be green, blue, and black, or be labeled with “organics”, “recyclables”, and “garbage”
- Requires providing signage for the indoor bins
- Provide annual information to employees about proper sorting of organic waste
- Periodically inspect organic waste containers for contamination
- If food generating business, implement surplus edible food recovery and record keeping program
West Contra Costa County Solid Waste Authority's (RecycleMore) Website: https://recyclemore.com/business/single-use-foodware-accessories-standard-condiments-law-ab-1276/
Summary
- Requires all retail food facilities and food delivery platforms to provide single-use foodware accessories and condiments upon request only except at drive-throughs and airports, where staff can ask if a customer wants single-use foodware accessories.
- Single-use foodware items cannot be bundled together.
- Food facilities using third-party delivery platforms can only provide single-use items and condiments that have been requested by a customer during the online ordering process.
City Website: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/429/Discharge-Requirements
Richmond Municipal Code: Chapter 12.18 - DISCHARGE TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM | Code of Ordinances | Richmond, CA | Municode Library)
Summary
- Businesses Discharging Industrial Wastewater/Production/Process must have a permit to do so through the City’s Water Resource Recovery Division
- Businesses Discharging Industrial Wastewater/Production/Process one time must have a permit from the City’s Water Resource Recovery Division to do so
City's Website: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans | Richmond, CA - Official Website
Richmond Municipal Code: Chapter 12.22 - STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE CONTROL | Code of Ordinances | Richmond, CA | Municode Library
Summary
- Industrial and commercial businesses must receive a stormwater permit from the City’s Wastewater Recovery Resource Division.
- Once approved for a permit, the business is required to submit annual reports to the City.
Learn more at: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4169/SB-1383-Short-Lived-Climate-Pollutants-S
SB 1383 requires a 75 percent reduction of the level of statewide disposal of organic waste by 2025, based on levels from 2014. Additionally, 20 percent of commercial edible food will need to be recovered from disposal by 2025.
Everyone will be affected by SB 1383 including, residents, multi-family properties and complexes, businesses, schools, and public agencies.
General information and updates on SB 1383 regulations are available at, California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy.
Sustainability Resources for Businesses
Green Business Certification
The City was certified as a "Green Business" under Contra Costa County's Green Business Program. The mission of the Green Business Program is to strengthen and sustain the quality of the environment in Contra Costa County through a collaborative partnership of public and private organizations that encourages, enables and recognizes businesses taking action to prevent pollution and conserve resources. Green business certification is free. Learn more about how you can certify your business or green your business.
Incentive Programs
Marin Clean Energy (MCE) Flex Market programs pay for the actual grid value of energy savings, resulting in more profits for your commercial and residential energy efficiency and load-shifting projects.
For energy efficiency providers – including contractors and aggregators – our Flex Market programs pay you for installing long-term energy efficiency measures, including:
- Building envelope
- HVAC
- Lighting
- Water heating
- Chillers
- Pumps and motors
- Refrigeration
Eligibility: Energy efficiency providers serving commercial and residential customers in MCE’s service area.
Interest form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=O3x0recx4Emr3ZQ9XrwvvacnFtx-p0tOtuZNrnHduB1UREpaNTlWUEtCT0ZKWUxaQVRPVUZZSTREWS4u
To learn more, visit https://mcecleanenergy.org/flexmarket-efficiencymarkets/
Businesses interested in being involved with Marin Clean Energy's (MCE) Business programs and building the electrification workforce, visit: https://mcecleanenergy.org/contractor-programs/
Contractor benefits:
- Get paired with pre-vetted job seekers to staff full-time, entry-level positions
- Payroll support to hire and train new staff
- $3,500 per crewmember to attend a comprehensive electrification training (up to 3 crewmembers)
- Access to on-demand energy efficiency and electrification training
Join MCE’s approved electrification contractor list to be featured on the Contractor Finder tool, where residential customers look for qualified contractors. Plus, you can take advantage of trainings and rebates that help you build a skilled crew and expand services to include new electric technologies. For more information, visit: https://mcecleanenergy.org/contractor-finder/
- Helps homeowners find contractors skilled in home electrification upgrades
- Exclusively lists contractors enrolled in 1 or more of MCE’s contractor program
- Special highlights for contractors enrolled in Residential Flex Market and Green Workforce Pathways
What is BayREN Business?
- This program provides incentives to contractors for completing energy efficiency projects at small businesses. The savings are passed on to the business through reduced upfront costs or quarterly payments based on the energy savings from the project.
- The program offers:
- Free energy assessment and technical assistance for small businesses
- Pay-for-performance incentives to contractor** for energy efficiency measures based on actual metered energy savings.
Who benefits from the program?
- Small businesses, particularly those in underserved communities.
- BayREN Business Program certified contractors (aka Aggregators)
Who is eligible for BayREN Business?
- Hard-to-Reach Business in the 9 San Francsico Bay Area Counties
**Savings are passed on to the business through lower project costs upfront based on estimated energy reductions OR quarterly payments based on actual savings of the project.
What is BRRR?
- This program provides incentives to contractors to replace refrigeration systems or high global warming potential refrigerants in existing systems with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
- The program offers:
- Free energy assessment and technical assistance for small businesses
- The program covers up to 80% of project costs
- Free refrigeration system operation and maintenance training for small business staff
Who benefits from the program?
- Small businesses
- Refrigeration Contractors (Must be certified my BayREN)
Who is eligible for BayREN Business?
- Small businesses in the Bay Area with priority given to businesses in low-income and CalEnviroscreen Disadvantaged Communities*
For more information, visit https://www.bayren.org/chill
Additional Resources:
- Learn more about obtaining a Business license: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/66/Business-Licenses
- New Business Guide Toolkit: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2766/Business-Economic-Development
- Energy Programs for Businesses: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2487/Business-and-Multifamily
- Free Recycling and Composting support and education: https://recyclemore.com/business/
- East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD): https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4563/Water-Conservation
- Lawn Conversion Rebate: https://www.ebmud.com/water/conservation-and-rebates/rebates/lawn-conversion-rebate
Business Development
Visit the City's Business Development website for more information on how to start or manage a business!
Employment and Training Department
Visit the City's Employment and Training Department for more information and assistance in getting involved in the green industry.
Resources
- RichmondWORKS One-Stop Career Center: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/661/RichmondWORKS
- Employer services: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/652/Business-Services
- Unemployment information: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/39249
- Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services: https://ehsd.org/
- California Employment Development Department: https://edd.ca.gov/
Related General Plan (2030) policies supporting green industry and workforce development
Policy |
Title |
Description |
|---|---|---|
| Policy ED2.1 | Local Employment Base |
Expand and diversify the local employment base to provide quality jobs for all Richmond residents, especially those that face barriers to employment such as youth, seniors, the formerly incarcerated, and residents with limited English proficiency. |
| Policy ED2.4 | Existing Employers |
Encourage established employers to remain and expand in Richmond in order to retain employers in key industries including green businesses, high-technology firms, food-related companies, port-related industries, medical services, manufacturing and distribution and retail/entertainment. |
| Policy ED2.6 | Environmentally Progressive Businesses and Industries |
Encourage existing businesses and industries to become increasingly environmentally progressive and continue making positive contributions to the community. |
| Policy ED3.1 | Public-Private Partnerships |
Encourage and support existing and potential employers to participate in local workforce development programs. |
| Policy ED3.2 | Workforce Training and Recruitment |
Support and enhance jobs-skills training and recruitment programs and services. |
| Policy EH2.1 | Job Skills Training | Enhance and strengthen technical, vocational and job skills training programs through the community colleges, adult schools, union apprenticeships and other local organizations to provide youth and adults with opportunities to learn relevant skills and advance economically. |