City Profiles / Medium Cities / Burbank, CA

Burbank, California

Water Quality and Conservation

Southern California has been suffering from the eight-year-long drought on the Colorado River, little local rainfall, and a judicial order to reduce pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by more than half. In May 2008, the City of Burbank, California, approved a Sustainable Water Use Practices Ordinance with four stages of practices based on the water supply level. Although it is currently in stage one, which involves voluntary water-saving measures, these include specifications against allowing water runoff and serving drinking water in restaurants when not requested, and instructing the prompt repair of household leaks. The city, which owns the utility Burbank Water and Power, offers education on water conservation with free classes on efficient landscaping and a way to report observed water-wasting practices to the authorities, who will then send the offender a warning letter.

Recycling

The city-owned, public/private Burbank Recycle Center opened in 1992 and is home to a materials recovery facility, a buyback and drop-off center, a used-oil center, the "compost corner," and a learning center. The city collects about 1,000 tons of green waste each month, but encourage backyard composting with workshops at the Recycle Center. The learning center also offers tours, exhibits on recycled materials and a library.