Great infographic from reeuse this bag .com…
Posts Tagged ‘composting’
Recycling!
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 Tips for Area Restaurants…
Monday, February 21st, 2011This came in from the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and thought it was interesting. There are tips here for any business not just restaurants…
Recycling and Composting in Northeast Ohio Restaurants
Restaurants are responsible for contracting for their own waste, recycling and composting services. Cities do not provide these services to businesses. There are numerous drop off locations for cardboard, paper, cans, plastic and glass:
- For drop off locations in the City of Cleveland, visit http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/en-US/apartment-recycling-guide.aspx and click on “The City of Cleveland has recycling drop-offs located throughout the municipality” toward the bottom of the page.
- For suburban drop off locations in Cuyahoga County, visit http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/en-US/community-recycling.aspx.
Tips on Establishing a Recycling and Composting Program in a Restaurant
While drop offs are an option, recycling needs to be convenient in order to increase participation and divert valuable resources from our landfills. It is generally better to get a recycling contract for your restaurant. Property managers and property owners will benefit from a recycling program by paying less for waste disposal and being able to offer an additional amenity to tenants. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District has developed the following step-by-step process to help property managers and restaurant managers start recycling and composting.
STEP 1: Add Up Your Waste Disposal Costs
A good way to start is to add up a year’s worth of trash bills to determine what you currently pay to landfill your waste. In addition, estimate the amount of waste currently produced. Ask your hauler to calculate this figure for you. They should be able to do this. Next, review your current contract to see if there are any restrictions to hiring another hauler to provide recycling if your current hauler does not.
STEP 2: Contact Your Waste Hauler
Contact your current waste hauler to see what recycling and composting services they are able to provide and what they charge. They may be able to offer recycling and composting at the same or at a lower cost than waste disposal. While there is typically an additional cost for recycling and composting dumpsters or cart services, a good recycling and composting program could reduce the number of weekly trash pulls by 40% or more. These reduced dumpster pulls will lower waste disposal costs. If your current waste hauler does not offer recycling services, consider contacting one of the following waste haulers that does provide recycling:
- City of Cleveland, Commercial Waste Division, contact: Victor Rucker (216) 664-2333 / vrucker@city.cleveland.oh.us.
- J&J Refuse, contact: Don Johnson (330) 963-5493 / djohnson@jandjrefuse.com
- Landmark, contact: Mark Frank (330) 802-2237 / trashdr1@yahoo.com
- Republic Waste Services, contact: Bill Wilk (216) 244-6115 / wwilk@republicservices.com.
- Rumpke Waste, contact: Shane Leftridge, (888) 786-7531
- Waste Management Inc., contact: Ray Krebs (216) 276-0995 / rkrebs@wm.com
Consider these composters:
- Rosby Resource Recovery, contact: Ian Rosby (216) 739-2220 / irosby@rosbycompanies.com
- Waste Management, contact: Tom Farnsworth (330) 204-4244 / tfarnswo@wm.com
STEP 3: Evaluate Costs by Projecting Recycling
Once you have obtained prices for recycling and composting services, estimate how much recycling and composting your restaurant produces, then calculate your waste disposal savings. The District has a calculator that can help you with this. See the District’s Less is More: A Guide to Recycling in the Workplace (Appendix A: Waste Collection Worksheet), available online: http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/en-US/recycle-at-work.aspx
STEP 4: Set up Your Recycling and Composting Collection System
You will need to determine what type of container(s) your facility has space for and what works best for your employees. Possible choices are additional dumpsters in a central location and/or wheeled 96-gallon carts. The key is to make it easy for your employees. Once you establish your collection infrastructure, start service!
STEP 5: Educate Your Staff
Education is key to making sure employees and custodians alike understand what is recyclable and compostable and how the recycling and composting system works. Make sure your employees and custodians know what is expected of them and how to use the new system so that separated recyclables and food waste do not end up in your trash dumpster.
STEP 6: Expand Your Program
Non-traditional materials like fluorescent bulbs, electronic waste, furniture, appliances and yard trimmings can also be recycled. For assistance, call the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District’s Business Recycling Specialist at 216-443-3749.
STEP 7: Track Your Success
Monitor your progress and share your results. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District has an annual awards program to recognize outstanding waste reduction, recycling and composting programs – let us know what you are doing so that we can celebrate your success!
For help with restaurant recycling and composting, contact the
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District’s
Business Recycling Specialist at 216-443-3749
?
Composting made easy…
Sunday, February 20th, 2011Whether you want to grow great veggies or pretty flowers, making your own compost is a great way to make your garden grow great. I was thrilled to find out about the composting seminars being held by the Solid Waste District. If you have ever wanted to know more about how to compost, then sign up for one of their seminars. I started over a year ago and it has made a big difference. Moreover, it has helped us move closer to our zero waste goal.
Compost Seminars and Bin Sales
The Solid Waste District has partnered with city service departments and local organizations to educate and promote backyard composting of food and yard waste. In an effort to provide Cuyahoga County residents with how-to-compost instructions and affordable compost bins, the Solid Waste District is proud to introduce the Compost Seminar & Compost Bin Sale program.
After the seminar about backyard composting, you can purchase a bin for your home.
Wishing Well Composter – $50.00
Ultimate Dirt Machine Digester – $50.00
Sure-Close Compost Pail – $5.00
Log onto http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/en-US/Composting.aspx
for the 2011 Compost Seminars & Bin Sales: Registration for each seminar is required.
And here are some bonus videos…
Composting on a large scale with EnviroPure
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010This is a guest post by a rep from EnviroPure. While I have not used this product, or seen it in action, the company seems to be gaining ground and market share. At one of our recent meetings of the Zero Waste Network, we discussed how food waste is one of the biggest contributors to office waste. That being true, then we know that food waste must be huge at restaurants, food courts and cafeterias. This is a product that could make a huge difference in those areas. Composting can be very difficult in an urban environment, and even in a suburban one. Image a restaurant or food service facility that can compost most or all of its food wast-how much would that help them to achieve a zero waste goal? Could we hope to start seeing these around Cleveland?
I would like to introduce Opus EnviroPure Systems food waste elimination technology. It is essentially a hyper-accelerated composting process which eliminates food waste onsite. Each system is custom-manufactured right here in the Midwest. Food service facilities will no longer need to incur costs collecting and transporting food wastes from the kitchen to loading dock and beyond. Generally food waste is totally disintegrated within 24 hours. The process is simple. Food is placed into an onsite sealed system which prevents access by vermin and insects. The continual feed system eliminates food waste and decomposition odors. Trash and recycling containers stay more sanitary. You can choose either the wet or dry technology which can be located inside near the dining area/kitchen or outside near the loading dock. The wet system converts food waste into grey water which can be collected and used for agricultural purposes such as plant or lawn irrigation. The dry unit utilizes a mulch type medium which only requires changing once or twice annually. This system is ideal for facilities which would like to compost but do not have nearby commercial composting sites. And best of all food is composted within 24 hrs rather than weeks and months.
By diverting the food waste from dumpsters, dumpsters weigh less which equates to fewer waste hauler pickups and lower collection fees. Since the food waste does not end up at local landfills, no deadly methane gas is emitted. This system ultimately saves time, hauling costs, and is socially responsible. When foodwaste is eliminated at its source, there are fewer carbon producing waste trucks on the road (the trucks that would transport this foodwaste to composting sites or landfills). Also when the food waste is eliminated at its source the foodwaste is not dumped in landfills where it emits methane which is 30x more toxic than C02.
Below is a brief video which will help explain the Opus EnviroPure system. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how EnviroPure Systems might contribute to your readers green initiatives.
(units now can be sized to eliminate up to 3000 lbs per day)
http://www.youtube.com/user/opusenviro
Linda Basinger EnviroPure Systems, Inc.
2011 West Fulton St. Chicago IL 60612
p. (888) 324-7265 f. (312) 951-9575
lbasinger@enviropuresystems.com
Backyard Composting is a breeze…
Thursday, June 17th, 2010One of the topics that I love to write about is composting. This is a very simple thing that can have a huge impact on the local landfills, and thus the environment. Landfills are generally sealed environments, so even organic matter can stay in them for decades without breaking down. In the last few years, waste management companies who create and maintain landfills have learned that if they seed them right, and watch them properly, they can siphon off the methane gas created from decomposition and the landfills can be mined later. Still, this is a not a practice used everywhere, and the easiest way we can slow our environmental impact is to watch what we throw away. Recycling, upcycling, bartering, trading and donating are all great ways to get rid of large portions of your household waste. Being less wasteful in the first place is another. But no matter what you do, there is generally at least some waste in every household that is organic matter that can be composted. Food scraps, leaves, lawn clippings, even paper goods can be composted. In return, you get an organic soil additive that will make your flowers produce better blooms and your gardens produce better produce.
Here are the basics that you should keep in mind when planning a compost program:
Meat can attract rodents. Small amounts of meat scraps are not that big of a deal, but if you have a lot of meat scraps in your home, it is best to keep them out of the compost, buy a puppy instead. Meat scraps also have the worst smell as they break down, and attract flies and other insects that can be bothersome.
Compost needs air, moisture and warmth. The micro organisms that break down organic matter into compost are living creatures. They need plenty of oxygen, and a moist place to survive. Smaller composts are not usually an issue in NE Ohio, as the hottest parts of the summer also come with plenty of humidity. Organic matter usually has plenty of water in it as well, but if you notice your compost drying out a little water could help speed it up. In colder parts of the country, compost breaks down much more slowly (if at all) in the winter. Just remember that whatever method you choose to compost that you allow plenty of air in the mix.
Balance nitrogen and carbon components. To operate at its most efficient, a compost needs fairly equal parts of nitrogen rich and carbon rich ingredients. Nitrogen rich items are things like food scraps, grass clippings, coffee grounds and other green stuffs. Carbon rich ingredients are dried up stuff, like dried up leaves, paper, cardboard, etc. If you have a large lot with lots of grass clippings, layer your clippings with paper from your shredder or things like pizza boxes and milk cartons, that you can’t recycle anyway. Try to keep the things that you put into your compost smallish in size. The bigger the pieces, the longer it will take to break down.
Now you know the basics, how do you begin? Composting can be as easy as starting a pile. While this is the cheapest way to go, piles are ugly, require tending, and have to be kept small or turned pretty often to keep the oxygen flowing. You can create your own bins from old pallets and chicken wire, old organization tubs, or my favorite-an old trash can. We have a couple of old cans that have cracked, sprouted holes, and lost wheels. Have you ever tried to get a garbage truck to take an old garbage can? Luckily they make excellent compost bins. If there are not enough holes or cracks, take out your handy drill and make a series of holes all around it to allow plenty of air to get inside. Smaller homes can use one or two small storage bins, larger families can use a series of garbage cans. I tend to use two. I fill one about halfway, then start filling the other. When the second is about halfway full, I dump the top of the first on top of the second and start with the first again. By the time that I have filled the other half way again, the top portion of the other can is now about ready for the garden. This simple system will allow you to use the most broken down compost and leave you with only rich additives in your garden. If you don’t have a lot to compost, just get two smaller bins or cans. When the second one is full, the first is likely broken down completely. The important thing is to make it about 3 foot cubed. Much more that this will mean more hard work and dumping and mixing. This size will allow for air flow and ease of tending. Trench composting may work for people with little waste, or for only highly organic material (like peelings and vegetable waste). Simply dig a fairly shallow trench in one area of the garden. As you fill it with compost, cover and let it decompose naturally. Other options include sophisticated systems that use worms to aid in decomposition or barrels that you can turn with a crank. This are all great, but can require more money to start out.
As I am big on trying to grow a lot of my own food this year, I have found that composting is a valuable asset to my gardening routine. It is basically free, organic fertilizer. Here are some links to other composting resources:
http://vegweb.com/composting/resources.shtml
http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/index.html
Composting is a big topic in Cleveland!
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Since my work at the Film Festival and our efforts to reduce the waste of this event, I was thrilled to volunteer at the Cleveland Composts event held by E4S last week. It was such a packed room, that they had to bring in extra chairs. I was running the video camera (which died out in short order) so I was able to listen to all the presenters. Sponsored by Rosby’s-the company that did the composting for us at the CIFF, and held at Trinity Commons, it was another fantastic E4S event.
- The Guys from Rosby’s
Anabel and Victoria from E4S
After introductions by Anabel Kouri and Victoria Avi, we got down to business. We were treated to some great speakers at this event. First off was Nancy Hughes,Compost & Recycling Coordinator, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. She talked about Zoo Poo, and their efforts to compost zoo waste. Manure is a big issue at a place like the zoo and they have learned how to turn that high cost into a revenue stream. High quality manure makes great compost and when the elephants return, there is going to be a need for more composting. Elephants create a lot of manure and when the new Africa House is complete, they hope to add even more members to their elephant family.
Then we heard from Josh Steffen, of the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. He discussed how his team has been trying to compost in house and the difficulties they need to address before trying to include visitors in their composting goals.
Dave, the worm guy
The next speaker was Dave Pindel, LEED AP, from Herschman Architects, Inc. He spoke mainly about their office’s new worm farm. It was a cool presentation and fun to watch. This guy is a man after my own heart. Unafraid to be the “weird worm guy”, he just bought a worm farm and maintains in near his desk. He keeps a compost scrap bucket under his desk and is not put off in the least at being the butt of jokes. I look forward to seeing him in the future and finding out some of the struggles and pitfalls of this small worm operation in his office.
Denise
We got to hear about the efforts of The Gund Foundation to create a greener office from Denise Stoudenmire of The George Gund Foundation. She talked about their new in office composting machine that creates compost from the food scraps of the office members automatically, by grinding and bio degrading: no fuss no muss. I made sure to give her my card as I think there small-medium sized office is typical and that everyone would like to hear what they are doing and how they can follow their example
Jessie Jacobson, Director of Premium Services, Aramark – Quicken Loans Arena and Jill Ziegler, Program Manager of Sustainability Initiatives, Forest City Enterprises, Inc. spoke together to round out the speakers. They worked together to explore the pilot program for a composting efforts downtown. They worked very hard to do a garbage assessment (yes, dumpster diving and separation) to determine just what they were throwing out at these two big locations near each other that are part of the heart of downtown Cleveland. Then they tried a 3 week pilot program to see just what they could compost and other things they could divert from landfill by recycling and such. These are big venues, and their efforts could have a huge impact on downtown. They are very near W 4th, and if they can get a hauler to come to their locations, then smaller venues like a restaurant nearby could reasonable expect to be able to compost as well. Like any such operation, they will start internally and move outward to get the general public involved. Jessie received a text message while at the event that okay’d their plan and the Q can move forward on its composting efforts. Jill was the contact for me at Tower City and it was with her support that we were able to compost 6 cubic yards of waste from the hospitality suite. These two dynamic women alone could change the way that downtown operations think about composting.
Jesse and Jill
I was most impressed with the way the attendance and the engagement of the audience. Trinity had to actually come and throw us out, as everyone was so engaged in the topic. Once again, showing how Cleveland’s greener future can include us all!
As the weather warms, things are heating up!
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010Now that the snow has stopped falling (we hope) and everyone has started to look at their spring tasks, more events seem to be popping up on the calendar. Here are some that you should think about trying to squeeze into your schedule:
Wednesday, April 14
Cleveland Composts! 8:30 – 11 am Trinity Commons, 2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 A Zero Waste NEO Network Event
This looks to be another great event by E4S. I have been so happy to have connected with Annabel and Victoria at E4S. It was through these guys that I was able to hook up with all the contacts that I needed to make the Hospitality Headquarters reduce its waste to almost zero. It should be fun, we will be hearing from people who are experts in this area: Nancy Hughes, Compost & Recycling Coordinator Cleveland Metroparks Zoo; Jessie Jacobson, Director of Premium Services Aramark – Quicken Loans Arena; Dave Pindel, LEED AP, Herschman Architects, Inc.; Denise Stoudenmire, The George Gund Foundation; Josh Steffen, Hershey Children`s Garden Manager-Cleveland Botanical Garden and Jill Ziegler, LEED AP, Program Manager, Sustainability Initiatives Forest City Enterprises, Inc. Many of these companies are already composting or are finishing their plans to implement a composting program. Cost is $25 for E4s members, $35 for non-members. Register online to pay by card or you can pay by check at the door.
West Side Coop Meeting- 6pm Gypsy Beans and Baking Company. If you have a vested interest in seeing a co op come to Cleveland’s west side, then you should come by and find out where the group is at these days in its plans.
If you have ever thought about volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, then come by their location for a volunteer orientation. It is scheduled to run from 6-7 and is a prerequisite for volunteering with them. You don’t have to commit now, but if you think you might want to help them out this summer, get your orientation out of the way now.
Thursday April 15
Now that the taxes are mailed, come to Shaker Sq-area Movers and Shakers at Sarava. This new group will be meeting to network from 5-7:30 pm. I was invited by my pal Rachel Downey of Studio Graphique, so it is sure to be a great mix of people. Come by and meet some great folks!
Friday April 16
If you are interested in learning more about 80 green area businesses, then come to the Green Dream at the Beachwood Community Center, 23235 Fairmount Blvd. from 1-7 pm. Between 1 and 4 each attendee can bring up to 3 boxes of paper to be shredded, so get out your old receipts and bring them by. We exhibited here last year and it was great fun. We will only be spectators this year, but I can’t wait to see the Tesla Roadster that will be on display ans see who is new to the area.
If you do not know of Keller Williams, they are moving into the area like gang busters. They are celebrating the grand opening of their downtown office from 5:30-10 pm. Find them at 700 Johnson Court and help celebrate this contributor to the local economy.
Then it is time again for the 78th St Experience. This open house is in the former American Greetings Creative Studios building between W 78th and W 80th Streets (1300 W. 78th St to 1305 W. 80th St) I always enjoy this show. There are always a ton of great pieces and plenty of good artwork at this show. Check out their Facebook page to see who is being featured this quarter. The event runs from 5-9 pm.
Saturday April 17
Art Cares Initiated by the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) in 2003, ArtCares is a collaboration between the CIA and the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. Born out of the awareness of the devastating impact the AIDS epidemic has had on the world of art, and out of a consequent awareness that artists can contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS, ArtCares celebrates contemporary art by providing opportunities to bid on original works in a variety of media, while enjoying wine and savories at an elegant reception. All proceeds from the event benefit the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.
Tickets for this event are $50 per person, and $100 per VIP. Please contact Rebecca Strong at the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland to order tickets. Call 216-621-0766 ext. 255, or email atrstrong@atfgc.org. I have a few donated pieces up for sale here. Last year the turnout was great and the art was phenomenal. There were some incredible deals as well. I had a hard time not going away with more that I donated.
Sunday April 18
Earth Fest: Earth Day event at the Zoo. This is another great event. You can see most of the zoo, visit the exhibits by 175 participants and have a great time. I will be at the NEO Green Building table in the afternoon, so stop by and say hello. If you want to get in free, simply ride the shuttle from public square. Last year, I got a ton of free stuff, too. Granola bars from Whole Foods, shopping bags, CFL bulbs, and more. I ran into so many friends that it was just one big party! Come join the fun!
Tuesday, April 20th
E4S networking meeting at the Tasting Room of the Great Lakes Brewery. This event is the Small Business Showcase and will feature start ups in the area that are worthy of watching. Great Lakes beer, appetizers, great networking and a good program. Never disappoints. 5:30-8:30 pm.
A Designer’s Footprint is a panel discussion of the creative industry and how it impacts consumer experiences in our city. This event is at the CIA Aitkin Auditorium and starts at 6pm. Come early to see a special viewing of the CIA Spring Design Show. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the event and will be followed by a meet up at the Greenhouse Tavern. I know most of the panel, so I am sure it will be an informative and lively discussion. Panelist include, Bill Doty of Doty & Miller, Dan Cuffaro of the CIA, Susie Frazier Miller an environmental artist, and Jonathan Sin-Jin Satayathum a designer ans sustainability director of the Greenhouse Tavern.
Wenesday April 21
GCA and TiE Ohio Portfolio Showcase. This event should be interesting. I will be going to see the portfolios of local entrepreneurs and see what the local talent is working on. I wrote about Sunflower Solutions and they are likely to be showing off their portable solar array. The event is at the GCA offices-10550 Carnegie Avenue, at kicks off at 5pm. Presentations will start at 5:45 and an open house will follow at 7pm. Register here and join me for an interesting evening.
Thursday, April 22
Crain’s Cleveland Breakfast Series at the Doubletree downtown from 7:30-9:30 am. This month will be a look at the Environmental Economy and Clean Water at a valuable asset. This should prove to be another valuable topic! Tickets are $35, register in advance.
Saturday and Sunday, April 23-25th
Synergy Fest is the weekend long sporting event at CSU. Local area teams and athletes will compete and the Synergy Foundation will hone their skills for the upcoming Gay Games in 2014. The inaugural SynergyFest will host individuals and teams in the following sports: Volleyball, Billiards, Tennis, Flag Football, Racquetball, and Squash. Come for the fun and watch the sports, or if you like you can still sign up until the 16th. Visit the Synergy Fest site for more details.
Saturday, April 24th
Come turn Compost! Last November a group of Cleveland Greenhouse Project members set up Compost Bins at the Trinity Community Garden at East 35th and Cedar. Now we plan to turn and combine the bins and do a site clean-up in preparation for planting. Rain or Shine! Bring rakes and shovels! Refreshments and education provided!
Then on Monday I will be on a panel for the Ohio Museums Association to discuss Going Green at museums. As you can see the calendar is getting pretty stuffed, so sorry I haven’t had the time to post much. In addition, I am planting a large garden (two in fact) in an effort to grow my own food. Let me know if you are planning on going to one of these events, maybe we can meet up. Also, be sure to become a fan of ours on Facebook to see daily posts of interesting articles and things I come across.
Great lakes Green Pages Fan Page
Great Lakes Design Collaborative Fan Page
Wrap up…
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Another record breaking year for the Cleveland International Film Festival. Attendance was up again-7 % over last year’s record breaker. Undaunted by a March snow or difficulties parking, over 71 thousand people made their way into the movies over 11 days. During this time, we managed to serve over a thousand people every day between movies. Thanks to the large containers provided by Rosby’s Resource Recycling and facilitated by Tower City Center and Forest City Enterprises, we managed to compost most of our waste. By my calculations we managed to recycle and compost about one and a half tons of waste. At the same time, we generated only one bag of garbage each day-that is about 15-20 pounds.
The entire experience was a great one. Being conscious of everyone’s trash really makes you think about your own. Much of what we threw away was plastic wrap and bags that food and ice products arrived in. The rest was coffee cups, Styrofoam and straws that were brought in from outside. It is really encouraging to think, however, that most of the waste we generated would be dirt within a few short months. The other real encouragement was how all the staff and volunteers got on board. Everyone started to think about what they brought into the Hospitality Headquarters. More people brought in their own coffee cups and water bottles. It also made me realize just how much food people waste. I have read studies that say we throw about 40% of the food we buy away. It made me vow to reduce the amount of food we throw away in my own home. So working with the public, I was amazed at how easily people threw stuff out. People are quick to take a can of soda, even though they only want a few sips. They will pile a plat high without ever having the time to eat it all. While this might be just what happens around the festival when time constraints and free food make for a unique experience, but I suspect that it is really the norm for most people. While people are starving and we over produce food on large scale farms, we continue to throw out edible food at an alarming rate.
I have managed to see some 15 film this year, and hope to still see some more. I have not seen many of the big award winners, though I managed to meet the guys who created Louder Than A Bomb-the documentary that one two awards. Bud managed to meet Jennifer Coolidge, and while I wanted to go and say hello to her, after a couple of martinis it would not have been a good idea, so I am glad that I restrained myself. I am sad, in a way to see the festival end, as it is kind of like the end of summer camp. I am glad to get off my feet and actually get some sleep, though. For those of you who are interested, you should start thinking about volunteering next year. Help us make the Cleveland International Film Festival the premiere event in the country for films and arts.
What is trash and what is garbage? #CIFF
Sunday, March 21st, 2010Today is the third day of the Hospitality Headquarters of the Cleveland International Film Festival. Overall, our waste production program has exceeded out expectations. For two days running, we have created only a single bag of real trash each day. That includes restrooms, food prep, packaging, and service ware. I really did not expect it go as well as it has.
I have to give my props to the powers that be at the Film Festival for allowing me to persue this endeavor. Being a garbage policeman has also made me really look at what we use and what we throw away. Small things make you take notice. For example, toothpicks used to hold sandwiches are not a terrible thing, but when you take the end and wrap it in non biodegradabel plastic frills, it no longer will break down completely. You start to notice how we as consumers insist on using more than one disposable plate, no matter the size, strength or material. We as consumers do not even think twice about using paper cups one after another. We will nearly always choose a paper cup over a china cup that can be rewashed. And I have always been astounded by the amount of napkins that are given and taken at any food venue. THis kind of a situation really makes you take notice of what we use and what we throw away. You never think twice about a single paper towel, but when you consider the amount that is used over the coarse of a day, and that amount really adds up.
When you really start to think about it, what is trash and what is garbage? Most of what would have ended up in landfill will be fertilizing raspberries by the end of the summer. I encourage all of you to think about what YOU throw away and what you call trash.
Nature Friendly makes my day at the CIFF!
Saturday, March 20th, 2010
I forget that not everyone thinks like me. I hang out with so many “greenies” that I am sometimes surprised when someone that I am talking to just doesn’t ‘get it.’ From my experience at the film festival last year, I knew that we would be generating a pretty hefty amount of garbage. Feeding thousands of plates of snacks and sandwiches, I was determined to find a way to reduce our environmental footprint. With plenty of negotiations and a few dozen phone calls, I was finally approved to start composting on Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, the hospitality headquarters opened on Friday morning. I put our order together, and had it delivered Thursday afternoon. When it arrived, however, I was disappointed to see a substitution. My enviro-friendly hot cup with the corn resin sealant on the inside was substituted for a hot cup that had a Styrofoam core. Not happy. I then spent the afternoon scouring the city for a hot cup that I could use in the compost. There were surprisingly few options. When I did find an option, I couldn’t get it. Minimum orders, no delivery, no pick ups, were all assorted hold ups. Enter Nature’s Friendly Products…
I had started with Nature’s Friendly Products, as I knew they had a full line of compostable products. They have stuff made from stuff like corn and sugar cane. They will compost in your own garden over a season. While their office is here, they need several days lead time to get the orders in from their warehouse in Indiana (or Iowa-one of the I states…). Jeri Leigh talked me through all the catalog and sent me more information than I needed. I put them on my short list to order from. When the deadline passed and I still did not know if I would be composting, I started looking at other sources. When my order came in wrong and I was freaking out, I finally called Nature’s Friendly Products again and nearly cried on them. A sweet young lady named Tammy calmed me sown with her sweet southern drawl and promised to call em back. Within ten short minutes, I got a call back. The customer forms were in the email and a single case of cups had been rounded up and would be waiting for me by 10 am the following morning. I am sure that she called every rep they had and probably pulled their cups from the employee break room to take care of me.
The following morning after our staff meeting, I jumped in the car and dashed off to Beachwood to pick up my cups. Within a few minutes of arriving, they were loaded and I was back on the road. As I sped down the road, driving farther than I have driven in months, I wondered about the emissions and gas usage by this crazy pick up. As if on cue, the first of several plastic bags floated across the road and hit my windshield with a light smack. The irony was not lost on me that while I was desperately trying to divert our food service waste from the landfill, the trash from someone else was attacking me. While I cannot manage to keep others from littering or reducing the trash that they create, I can make sure that the things under my control were as green as possible. Without the help of Nature’s Friendly Products, I would have had to use a standard hot cup and that might derail all of my plans for composting our waste. And compost we are! In a single day, we managed to create a single bag of garbage. With the hundreds of plates of food that were served, that was quite an accomplishment.
If you are having an event, I highly recommend checking in with Jeri Leigh Siss and her cohorts at Nature’s Friendly Products. With the help fo them and Rosby Companies, your next event could be zero waste.
