The City of Long Beach has secured a spot among the most environmentally conscious municipalities nationwide with a second-place win in the 2023 Green Garage Awards. The National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA), acknowledges the City's Fleet Services Bureau for their exemplary green practices, according to the  City of Long Beach.

Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his pride in a statement obtained by the City of Long Beach's press team, "The recent recognition of our Fleet Services Bureau for their dedication to sustainable practices demonstrates that Long Beach is a model city for sustainability." Richardson continued, "This award serves as a powerful symbol of our commitment to not only responsible governance, but also the health and well-being of our community. We are proud to be leading the way towards a greener future for all."

In their pursuit to be more eco-friendly, the City of Long Beach has adopted several advanced practices. Among them, they've initiated a tire recap and recycling program, embraced the use of gray water recycling for their car wash, and made a significant move to cut down paper use by transitioning to digital facility inspections and paperless systems for various operational aspects. Their fleet now boasts a considerable number of electric and hybrid vehicles, with 80 electric and 86 plug-in hybrids. Additionally, the City has installed over 90 electric vehicle charging stations, further bolstering its green infrastructure, as per the City of Long Beach.

"The City fleet has a long history of alternative fuel use and emissions reduction. This Green Garage award and our ongoing fleet conversion to zero-emissions illustrate our continued dedication to fleet sustainability," Fleet Services Bureau Manager Dan Berlenbach was quoted saying in the press release. The shift includes increasing the use of reusable oil filters which now feature in 25% of city vehicles and slashing aerosol usage by a staggering 75%.