Sustainable Businesses

This is a one-stop resource with smart solutions for businesses to be more efficient and sustainable. Check out the wide range of free or low-cost programs, rebates, and resources available to Burlingame businesses.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Peninsula Clean Energy allows businesses to operate on 100% renewable energy with the ECO100 rate. ECO100 is the easiest way a business can use 100% renewable energy without the hassle of installing solar power.
San Mateo County Energy Watch offers businesses free energy audits and significant rebates for lighting upgrades and other energy improvements. Participating Burlingame businesses have seen their electricity bill drop by 30%. Check out Burlingame's Northern Italian restaurant Fattoria Emare's success story here.

GET RECOGNIZED

Burlingame Green Business Award recognizes businesses that go above and beyond to conserve resources and protect the environment while saving money in the process.
San Mateo County Green Business program certifies businesses that incorporate green practices.
Sustainable San Mateo County Awards recognize San Mateo County businesses, community groups, and individuals that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to bringing sustainable practices that impact San Mateo County. The 2018 Sustainability Awards awarded Proterra - a Burlingame-based electric bus company.

Certified Green Businesses in Burlingame:

OPERATIONS

Explore what and where to purchase environmentally preferred items via San Francisco Approved

STORMWATER

Adopt a Drain near your business by keeping it free of litter and leaves. Storm drains carry both rainwater and pollutants directly to our local creeks and the San Francisco Bay. Help keep our waterways clean by taking care of a storm drain near you. Plus, you can get free cleaning supplies and give your adopted drain a name.
Become a Cigarette Butt-Free Business. Join neighboring businesses by pledging to have ash tray receptacles, keep the area around your business clean, display the Butt-Free Business decal, and follow local smoking ordinances.
Free sandbags are available at 600 California Drive. The station is self-service and shovels are provided.
Frequently Asked Questions for Flood insurance for you to read up on flood insurance and decide if it might be right for your property.
Mobile pet grooming brochure offers tips for businesses to properly discharge wash waters to the sanitary sewer system, and never to the storm drain.
Quick Guide to Stormwater Pollution Prevention for Businesses – a tip sheet on how your business can reduce stormwater pollution from entering the San Francisco Bay.
The Very Small Quantity Generator Program provides an inexpensive hazardous waste disposal option for businesses that generate less than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste per month. Visit the San Mateo County Health website for more information about this program, including scheduling a drop-off appointment.

TRANSPORTATION

Alternative Transportation Map provides information on five free shuttle routes that run between Millbrae BART station and Burlingame’s hotels and downtown areas.
Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Charge! Program offers grant funding to offset the cost of purchasing and installing new publicly available electric vehicle charging stations within the Bay Area.
Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program requires Bay Area employers with 50 or more full-time employees within the Bay Area to offer commuter benefits to their employees.
Electric vehicle charging map shows locations of nearby charging stations and their fees.
Lime Bike Share Pilot Program is a twelve month bike share pilot program between the City of Burlingame and Lime.
Peninsula Clean Energy’s Electric Vehicle Incentives provides information on current federal and state rebates.
PG&E’s FleetReady program is an electric fleet vehicle charging program with incentives for businesses with medium and heavy-duty fleet vehicles.
Public Transportation in Burlingame provides information on how to navigate Burlingame without a car using bus, rail, bicycles, and more.
Telework and Flex-Schedules Toolkit provides general information and sample materials that may be consulted by employers considering the development or implementation of a telework program.

WASTEWATER

Dispose old medicine in a collection bin. If you have unwanted or expired medicines, you can discard them at a safe medicine disposal site such as the Burlingame Police Department, CVS, or Walgreens near you. For a complete list of sites, please visit the San Mateo County's Medicine Disposal webpage. To find a safe home needle disposal site, click here.
Never pour fats, oils, or grease (FOG) down the drain. Pouring FOG can clog the kitchen drain and sewer pipes. Such clogs may result in sewage back-ups, which pose serious environmental health hazards and can damage your property.
Toilets are not trashcans. Only flush the 3 Ps: Pee, Poop, and (toilet) Paper. When other items are flushed, they may get stuck in the sewer lines, which can cause unpleasant clogs. These clogs may result in overflows and can damage public and private property.

WATER CONSERVATION

Free Landscape Classes from BAWSCA provides property owners, residents, and landscapers tips on how to maintain your garden beautifully while reducing outdoor water usage.
Rainwater Harvesting Rebate Program provides up to $100 off each qualifying rain barrel (limit 4 per multi-family or commercial building) to help you capture rainwater for future use, such as watering plants.

ZERO WASTE

Green Citizen, a local e-waste recycling business in Burlingame, can pick up e-waste, like computers, screens, and printers from businesses for recycling.
Keep Burlingame clean by disposing bulky items properly. If you see illegal dumping, notify the City by calling 650-558-7670 or reporting it through accessBurlingame.
Mandatory Commercial Composting (AB 1826) requires businesses to recycle (also known as compost) organic waste. Starting January 1, 2019, this law will apply to generators of 4 cubic yards or more per week of garbage.
Mandatory Commercial Recycling (AB 341) states that all businesses and public entities that generate four (4) or more cubic yards of garbage per week are subject to mandatory recycling.
Recology, Burlingame’s waste hauler, offers businesses free waste audits and resources to implement and improve recycling and composting. Sign up for Recology’s Technical Assistance Program where their Waste Zero Team will visit your site and create a customized service option and equipment to meet your needs.
Recology’s Whatbin search engine website tells you which items can be properly composted, recycled, or landfilled.
Rethink Disposable is a technical assistance program to help food business operators reduce waste and cut costs by minimizing disposable packaging items. Whether you are a caterer, a mobile food vendor, or run a restaurant/café/institutional kitchen, minimizing the use of disposable food ware products can help you save money, prevent litter, and keep the local waterways clean.
San Mateo County's Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Guide for where to take unwanted items.
Take The Last Plastic Straw Challenge and eliminate plastic pollution from the source. To participate in the challenge, simply provide a straw only when requested by a customer, provide either a reusable or naturally compostable straw, or get rid of straws completely.