Live Green Lexington

We are the go-to environmental people for the City of Lexington. It’s our job to let you know what the city is doing to protect and improve the environment and how you can help.

Our team is part of the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works, which consists of the divisions of Waste Management, Water Quality (stormwater and sanitary sewers), Environmental Services, Traffic Engineering, Building Inspection, Engineering, and Streets & Roads.

Spotlight: Solarize Lexington

In 2023, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government partnered with the Kentucky Solar Energy Society to launch Solarize Lexington. The program is back for a second round in 2024!

The program helps households reduce their reliance on the electric grid by making installing solar photovoltaics (PV) easier. Solarize Lexington will:

  • Connect participants to a vetted solar installer, Solar Energy Solutions*
  • Provide a step-by-step walk-through of the solar installation process and
  • Give households access to discounted wholesale rates (up to 15% off).

 

Going solar has many potential benefits, including:

  • Reducing a homeowner’s energy bill
  • Reducing a homeowner’s carbon footprint
  • Increasing a property’s value and
  • Supporting local jobs by supporting local solar installers.

 

Learn more

Volunteer opportunities

Cleanup opportunities – Rain can wash litter from parking lots, streets, parks and more into storm drains and on into local creeks. The water that enters storm drains isn’t cleaned. That’s why it’s important that only rain goes down the drain. The city provides Creek Sweep kits with bags and gloves that you can use on walks or keep in your car to clean up while you are out and about. You can request a Creek Sweep kit by emailing LiveGreen@lexingtonky.gov.  

Storm drain stenciling and painting – Adopt a storm drain. Storm drains lead directly to local creeks, help bring attention to this important infrastructure and encourage people to keep them clean by painting them with clean water messaging; you can even adopt the drain(s) you paint by keeping it free of yard waste, litter and other obstructions. For more information, visit lexingtonky.gov/stencil.

Scheduled volunteer activities

To receive text alerts about upcoming environmental volunteer opportunities, text LexVol to 888777.

Recycle updates

Contamination, regular maintenance and recycling markets can all affect Lexington’s Recycle Center, which serves communities throughout Central Kentucky. Visit lexingtonkygov/recycleupdates for the latest updates on what’s happening at the center.

At Your Service newsletters

News

Public invited to view, offer input on region’s long-range transportation plan

Residents within Fayette and Jessamine counties are invited to review and offer input on the region’s 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).

Explore local creeks during Water Week

Celebrate Lexington’s fifth annual Water Week from March 16 – 23 with more than 20 events that encourage a connection with local waterways. People of all ages and abilities are invited to participate through a variety of in-person, virtual and self-guided opportunities.

Lexington’s Solarize Program accepting participants for the second year

The City of Lexington is kicking off the second year of Solarize Lexington, a program to encourage solar panel installation so residents can reduce their reliance on the electric grid. Last year, over 70 arrays of solar panels were installed by the end of 2023.

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