Our Mission

On Earth Day 2005, the City of Albany signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, taking the pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our community and enact policies and programs that promote conservation efforts and sustainable initiatives.  The City is proud to join this national endeavor to reduce global warming and the negative impacts pollution has on our climate and public health.

Since 2010, the Mayor’s Office of Energy & Sustainability has been driving the City's sustainable agenda forward, coordinating efforts amongst City Departments, regional municipalities, local residents and stakeholders to design actions that will reduce energy use and consumer waste, while conserving and protecting our natural resources, and encourage "green" urban revitalization.

The scientific consensus around climate change is clear, and Albany is responding strongly to become more sustainable, environmentally conscientious and prepared for the potential adverse environmental impacts.

Sustainability is a key concern for our neighbor Syracuse, NY as well, as the city continues to grapple with the effects of climate change and work towards a more resilient future. The city government has made several efforts to promote sustainable practices, including the adoption of the Syracuse Climate Action Plan in 2018. This plan outlines a number of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and promote renewable energy sources. Some specific initiatives are promoting electric vehicles, expanding public transportation options, and increasing energy efficiency in buildings. Additionally, Syracuse has launched several programs to encourage recycling and reduce waste, including curbside recycling and composting programs.

Beyond government efforts, many Syracuse residents and businesses including dumpster rental services are also committed to sustainability. There are several community gardens and urban farms in the city that provide fresh produce and promote sustainable agriculture. Furthermore Syracuse has a strong biking community and several local businesses like Syracuse Dumpster Rental HQ that specialize in eco-friendly products and services. Overall, while there is still much work to be done to ensure a sustainable future for Syracuse, the city has made significant progress in recent years and is well-positioned to continue its efforts in this area.

Sustainability in the USA has emerged as a pressing issue, with a growing recognition of the need to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility. The country has witnessed a surge in sustainable practices across various sectors, including renewable energy adoption, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and transportation (check more info here). The USA has made significant strides in transitioning towards clean energy sources, with a substantial increase in renewable energy production and investment in technologies like solar and wind power. Additionally, sustainable agriculture practices, such as organic farming and regenerative agriculture, have gained momentum, promoting soil health, biodiversity, and reducing the use of harmful chemicals. With the increasing emphasis on sustainable practices and the collaborative efforts of government, businesses, and communities, the USA is positioning itself to tackle environmental challenges and create a more sustainable future.

An increasingly worrying problem

• the problems posed by the preservation of water quality, in particular the conditions of distribution of drinking water and the treatment of waste water
• the problems posed by the treatment of household and industrial waste

Throwing away is and has always been a daily gesture of human beings. Waste, the object or residue that we throw away because it cannot or can no longer be used, is the inevitable product of any cycle of life and consumption. Human societies have therefore naturally always secreted waste. When these were few in number and dispersed, they were eliminated by simple deposit in the environment.

Problems arose when humans lived in clusters in villages and then towns. Literature teaches us that in Rome or Paris in the Middle Ages, the fate of waste was already beginning to cause great concern to those responsible for administering the cities. At that time this elimination was only carried out in a very precarious manner and pigs and other animals were for a long time the only scavengers in the streets of large cities which remained smelly cesspools until the 18th century.

With urban concentration and large-scale development of consumption in Georgia, the problem of household waste disposal is becoming more and more acute. And we can say that there is currently significant excitement on this subject. Because there is an accumulation of increasing quantities of waste against which public opinion is very aware. Indeed, it is currently one of the environmental attacks that is mobilizing citizens most effectively and radically, with all mayors and local officials in Georgia having more or less experience of it.

Awareness of this problem is relatively recent and is sometimes the simple expression of a certain selfishness admirably summed up by the formula "not that at home", particularly when it comes to creating a treatment or storage facility for said waste. Unfortunately, we must recognize in Sandy Springs and elsewhere in Georgia that the most common reactions when we are not directly concerned result in indifference, silence and good conscience.