Energy & Natural Resource Conservation Program

  • Over a million pounds of animal waste sent for composting each year
  • Diverted an average of 75% of our total solid waste away from landfill every month – composting food scraps from the restaurants and organics from our horticulture department, recycling paper, plastic, cardboard, scrap metal and glass.
  • Special recycling programs have been established for alkaline batteries, cell phones and e-waste.
  • A hazardous waste storage area and recycling program exists on site for unused paint, automobile batteries, light bulbs and other materials.
  • Solar electronic vehicle charging station project, capable of charging 4 vehicles at once is in design with the San Francisco Department of the Environment (coming spring of 2012)
  • All custodial chemicals are earth friendly and a dilution system installed in every restroom to insure proper dilution rates and avoid over usage.
  • Zoo keys are made from recycled material and the story boxes are solar powered where possible.
  • Waste stations were purchased and donated to encourage guests to separate their waste. These stations are in public areas and in restaurants.
  • The Zoo reimburses the cost of transit passes to employees using public systems to commute to work and gives an admission discount for guest using public transit to access the site
  • Biodiesel program underway with the creation of a fuel depot and our outreach van/Zoomobile running on 100% Biodiesel
  • The recent conversion of the penguin pool from potable to well waters has saved millions of gallons of domestic drinking water
  • In conjunction with our local utilities company (SF PUC) all of the Zoo bathrooms have been converted to efficient low flow toilets and water saving deices on all faucets
  • Horticulture continues to install drip and automated irrigation systems to reduce water use
  • Water conservation project in conjunction with San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
  • Energy conservation project in conjunction with San Francisco Public Uwtilities Commission

 
Get Involved

Spend a Saturday helping beautify the Zoo by volunteering for Renew the Zoo. Visit our native gardens – at the east end of the Lion house and in the Fisher Family Children’s Zoo in front of the Meerkat and Prairie Dog exhibit – for ideas for your own garden. Then, ask an expert at your local garden center about the kinds of native plants you can grow. Remember, native plants mean less work for you.