Environmental Management System

Since 2006, the City of Richmond Hill’s Environmental Management System (EMS) has demonstrated that our municipality is a leader in corporate environmental management and sustainability.

Learn more about our environmental vision through Richmond Hill's Environmental Policy.

Learn about our goals and objectives through our Environment Strategy.

Why have an Environmental Management System?

The Environmental Management System is a set of processes, policies and best practices which provides the City with a method for managing our impacts on the natural environment. Richmond Hill’s EMS offers a number of benefits, including:

• Better environmental performance
• Reduction of environmental impacts
• More efficient use of resources, which leads to reduced operating costs
• Demonstrates commitment to achieving government standards
• Demonstrates commitment to the environment
• Better management of environmental risks, now and in the future

Implementing the Environmental Management System

The EMS reviews the environmental impacts of our activities, products and services, and sets goals and targets for managing them. Major impacts are monitored, controlled and reduced through operational procedures, staff training and environmental improvement projects.

Internal communication is another important part of this management system. Staff are trained on environmental policies, projects and controls, and meeting the requirements of applicable regulations. Our staff meet regularly to review our performance and discuss areas where we can improve.