Green your business
Make your business better for the environment. Save money, improve employee health, and attract customers.
Environmental Programs
San Francisco Green Business Program
The City of SF promotes businesses that take those extra steps to help protect our environment. Let the City of SF promote your business, save money, and go green by taking advantage of our free recognition program.
San Francisco Energy Watch Program
SF Energy Watch helps businesses offers free energy assessments and financial incentives for energy efficiency upgrades. Switching to energy efficient equipment can help lower your operating costs, helping both the environment and your bottom line.
Environmental laws
San Francisco has four key environmental ordinances that every business must follow:
Recycling & Composting Ordinance
This ordinance requires everyone in San Francisco to separate their refuse into recyclables, compostables, and landfill trash.
San Francisco Commuter Benefits Ordinance
This ordinance requires SF employers with 20 or more employees to offer commuter benefits such as free transportation or transportation benefits.
Check Out Bag Ordinance
This ordinance bans plastic checkout bags for all retail stores and food establishments. It also requires a charge on allowed checkout bags (compostable bags, recycled paper bags, or reusable bags).
Food Service Waste Reduction Ordinance
This ordinance requires that all to-go containers used by food vendors and restaurants in San Francisco be compostable or recyclable to-go containers. Styrofoam™ is not recyclable or compostable.