First meeting of employee Sustainability Committee was on February 2, 2023 and they continue to meet once a month.
The City will create a sustainability committee with representatives from each department. The committee will establish and communicate internal sustainability efforts such as a municipal composting program. The committee will also create challenges and programs to incentivize departments to meet environmental goals. Department representatives will be charged with educating their respective department on sustainable practices.
The Carmel Sustainability Committee held an employee volunteer trail clean-up event on Earth Day, April 22, 2025. We had 17 volunteers and collected about 15 bags of trash, 2 bags of recycling, and a wicker bench along the Hagan-Burke Trail.
The Carmel Sustainability Committee held its second volunteer invasive species removal event at Founders Park. The volunteer group focused on Japanese honeysuckle, Mulberry trees, Callery Pear trees, and Autumn Olive growing along the path in the park.
The Carmel Sustainability Committee held a volunteer invasive species removal event on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The event was held at Central Park. Invasive species can cause extinctions of native plants and animals, reduction of biodiversity, and alter habitats. The volunteer group eradicated 1 acre of Japanese honeysuckle growing in the woods near E 111th St and College Ave. The event had 23 volunteers from the following departments: DOCS, Engineering Department, Street Department, Utilities Department, Marketing and Community Relations, Park Department, and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District.