2023 Green Cincinnati Plan

City Council Review, Adoption and Celebration!

Food Waste Prevention Week

April 10 - 16, 2023

Up to thirty-five percent of all food produced goes uneaten, wasting many resources of land, water, and energy used to grow, package and transport food and results in methane gas being released from landfills. It also effects people and a family of four can save an average of $1800 per year if they utilize good food waste prevention practices.

Food Waste Prevention Week 2023 is a dynamic week full of activities that raise awareness and inspire people to reduce food waste at home, at work, at school, and in our communities. There will be a series of free webinars throughout the week that highlight best practices from local governments, schools, grassroots organizations, hospitality organizations, and policymakers.

Also find activities happening right here in Cincinnati with Wasted Food Stops With Us and follow @cincyrecycles for more tips and information.

OES is Seeking Climate Justice VISTA Applicants

The City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment and Sustainability (OES) is excited to announce a full-time Americorps VISTA role with our office from June 2023 - June 2024. The OES team seeks a justice-oriented, critically thinking, people person to join our team as we build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient city for all. The Climate Justice VISTA will help OES and partners to more effectively address the issue of energy poverty, to mobilize residents, and to attract resources.

Interested or know someone who could be? Take a look at the following to consider further and please share.

• Position Description
• Americorps Info Sheet

To apply, submit a brief statement of interest and a resume to

[email protected]. If you have questions, reach out to [email protected]. 

City Utility Aggregation Program

Saves Residents $

Cincinnati residents are currently receiving notices from the City and Dynegy about the Cincinnati Electric Aggregation Program. The program offers participants access to 100% green energy at reduced rates through a partnership with Dynegy.

Based on data publicly available from the Public Utility Commission of Ohio, the rates offered by the program have been an average of 10.2% less than the Duke SSO rate since June 2019.

During the period from May 2022 through April 2023, the program saved the average residential customer approximately $170.  

There is no charge for eligible residents to join or leave the program, however residents who have a contract with another electricity provider should review the terms of their contract to determine if they may be responsible for any cancellation fees charged by their current provider.

Backyard Composting Classes

Starting April 13, 2023

6:30 p.m.

And 7 other dates!

Thursday, April 13: 6:30 p.m. - Cincinnati Civic Garden

Hamilton County R3Source’s Elise Roalef teaches participants how to start their own backyard composting with kitchen food scraps and yard trimmings such as leaves and grass. This is the first of eight free seminars in April and May throughout Hamilton County. Click here for more information and to register.

Matching Grants for Energy Efficiency

in Multi-Family Buildings

Due May 5, 2023

The City of Cincinnati offers matching grants for owners of multi-family buildings (2 or more units) to incentivize and double the impact of electric energy efficiency upgrades.

Matching grants are available up to $5,000 per building, per cycle.

Building(s) must be located within the City of Cincinnati.

Fifty percent or more of building tenants must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and be responsible for their own electricity payments.

Building Owners must be able to pay upfront and receive the 1:1 match post project completion. Funding for this program is provided by Duke Energy Ohio

Questions can be directed to Molly Robertshaw

More information can be found here.

Cincinnati Neighborhood Fruits and Veggies

Food Waste Collection

and Community Composting

If you are looking to have your beyond-saving fruits and veggies transformed into compost, look here to find a company to collect them from your house.

The Compost Coordinator, Marie, has also been working to create numerous small-scale compost sites at various community gardens and orchards. Compost created will be tested and used at various agricultural locations. Some of these site will be available soon to drop off your own vegetative materials for free.

Funding for this project came from the United States Department of Agriculture for the Cincinnati Community Composting Collaborative.



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