Sustainable Novi: Fostering a Greener Tomorrow

Welcome! Whether you are a lifelong resident or new to the City of Novi, you play a vital role in keeping our community beautiful, healthy, and thriving. This page is your guide to understanding sustainability and discovering simple ways we can all work together to protect our local environment.

What is Sustainability?

The simple definition: Sustainability means meeting our needs today without ruining the chances for future generations to meet their needs tomorrow.

What it means in practice: Think of it like taking care of a family home. You want to keep the house clean, fix what's broken, and save money where you can, so that your children and grandchildren can enjoy living there too. In Novi, practicing sustainability means making smart choices about how we handle our trash, how much energy and water we use, and how we protect our local parks and wildlife.

What is Novi Doing to Encourage a Sustainable Community?

The City of Novi is committed to leading by example. We are actively working to protect our natural resources, improve energy efficiency, and reduce waste across all city operations.

To help guide these efforts, the City Council established the Environmental Sustainability Committee. This dedicated group of community members and local leaders works to develop green initiatives, advise on environmental policies, and find innovative ways to make Novi a cleaner, greener place to live.

How Can You Help? Simple Tips for Sustainable Living

You don't have to change your entire life to make a difference. Small, everyday habits add up to a massive positive impact for our city! Here is how you can help:

Rethink Your Rubbish

• Recycle Right: Use your curbside recycling bin for clean paper, cardboard, plastics, and glass. For larger items or special materials, visit the Recycling Yard at the Department of Public Works (DPW).
• Household Hazardous Waste: Keep dangerous chemicals out of our water supply. Click here for guidelines on Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste.
• Food Composting Program: Don't throw away those fruit peels and coffee grounds! Composting turns food waste into nutrient-rich soil instead of letting it sit in a landfill. Learn how to join Novi's Food Scrap Composting Program here.
• Yard Waste: Keep our neighborhoods tidy and eco-friendly by disposing of garden refuse, leaves, and grass clippings in approved compostable paper bags.

Watch Your Water

• Take Shorter Showers: Cutting your shower time by just a few minutes can save dozens of gallons of water a week.
• Smart Lawn Watering: Water your lawn in the early morning or late evening to prevent the sun from instantly evaporating the moisture. Only water when necessary!

Be Energy Efficient

• Lights Out: Use energy efficient light bulbs to reduce your carbon footprints and lower your electric bill.
• Lights Out: It sounds simple, but turning off the lights, TV, and fans when you leave a room is one of the easiest ways to conserve energy.

Native Plants & Organics

• Native plant species are best equipped to build habitat and provide food for our native wildlife. They are also easier to care for.
• Fewer pesticides are required to maintain native plants compared with invasive ones.
• Organic fertilizers work by releasing nutrients slowly as they are broken down by microorganisms and they feed the soil, not just the plants, which helps build long-term fertility.

Together, we can keep Novi green, clean, and beautiful for generations to come!