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Washington’s Emerald City Receives Recognition and Continues to GET GREENER

Washington’s Emerald City Receives Recognition and Continues to GET GREENER

Crystal City (Arlington, VA) – The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) announced the arrival and placement of new recycling bins throughout the Crystal City downtown area. As part of its Green program, the Crystal City BID focuses on minimizing the area’s cumulative environmental impact by addressing three areas: energy efficiency, environmental quality (including expanded greening with low-water, no-mow landscape), and recycling/reuse (waste minimization and compost).

The new recycling bins are part of Crystal City’s ‘Green Scene’ program which recently was named a finalist for the 2009 Washington Business Journal’s Green Business Award in Education and Outreach. The placement of the new bins follows last weekend’s annual Vintage Crystal event, which also promoted an environmentally Green program with on-site recycling, eco-friendly products and compost bins.

“Our 2009 program is only the beginning of a great Green line-up in Crystal City,” said Angela Fox, President and CEO of the Crystal City BID. “With ‘Green Scene,’ Crystal City has become fit, healthy and green, and we look forward to building on this success in the coming years.”

Over the last few years, Crystal City property owners have added and expanded recycling programs inside office, hotel and residential buildings, adding plastic and glass to paper and cardboard programs. Most recently, Vornado/Charles E. Smith buildings standardized their comprehensive recycling program for all retail, restaurant and office tenants to improve their recycling diversion rate. Now, with the help of the Crystal City BID, these programs have extended to the streets and sidewalks of Crystal City. The bins are strategically located throughout the downtown area and allow users to easily recycle aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles, and mixed paper products. These bins --Green in color and in purpose -- are readily identifiable and easy to use. They help all Crystal City residents, workers and visitors ensure that Crystal City is a bright place to be - Washington's Emerald City!

The Crystal City BID was ecstatic that the ‘Green Scene’ program was named a finalist by the 2009 Washington Business Journal’s Green Business Award in Education and Outreach. The award honors a community awareness campaign by a company, nonprofit, or municipal government that has led to a significant change in behavior on the part of citizens in the Washington region.

‘Green Scene’ has also received an Award of Distinction from The International Downtown Association (IDA). The project was one of 77 award submissions IDA received this year as part of its Downtown Achievement Awards. “The number and breadth of entries made judging a difficult task,” said Jane Jenkins, chairman of IDA and the awards program. “The awards jury was impressed with the accomplishments of the winners and is pleased to honor the Crystal City BID among them.” The 2009 Downtown Achievement Award winners were recognized recently during IDA’s 55th Annual Conference in Milwaukee, WI.

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The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) is a public-private partnership established in April 2006 to promote the vibrant Crystal City business, retail, restaurant and residential community. The BID is committed to showcasing the area as a world-class destination for visitors, employees and residents. Crystal City is ACTIVE, ARTFUL, ACCESSIBLE, and GREEN. For more information, visit www.crystalcity.org.