St. Monica Catholic Community

725 California Ave.
Santa Monica, California 90403

(310) 566-1555


GBC 2018-2021

St. Monica Catholic Community provides spiritual growth and guidance opportunities, worship, prayer and fellowship, support to individuals in need, as well as sacramental celebrations, Catholic education, volunteer opportunities, and facility rentals. To reduce carbon emissions associated with work commutes, they offer compressed work weeks, and telecommuting to most employees. Together with sourcing Energy Star equipment, installing some motion sensors, St Monica’s cuts 565 lbs. of CO2 emissions annually.

To increase water efficiency, five high efficiency faucet aerators were installed saving 4,566 gallons of water annually. Conservation signs are posted to remind guests and staff to conserve water.  LEDs were already fitted facility wide in conjunction with motion detectors

Through their enrollment in the program, St Monica’s refined their existing recycling program through employee education, and acquiring an additional blue bin receptacles for placement next to trash bins facility-wide.  Clear TRASH and RECYCLE signs are posted on all receptacles.  Sustainable Works provided zero waste training to all employees. To incentivize staff to minimize use of disposable foodware at work, St Monica’s purchased silverware for staff use in break room and an additional high efficiency dishwasher. These combined efforts resulted in successfully diverting an additional 25% materials from ending up in landfill bringing St Monica’s Center to about a 60% diversion rate.

To further close the zero waste loop, St Monica’s implemented an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program that includes a commitment to phase in minimum 30% post-consumer content recycled office paper, napkins and toilet tissue.

For pollution prevention, St Monica’s requested Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services from their current pest contractor.  IPM principles include, but are not limited to monitoring and proper identification of pests prior to pesticide applications, keeping areas clear of food, water and harborage sites, pesticide applications that have minimal risks associated with their use.