Green Technology

Longwood Garden’s casual dining spot, the Terrace, has achieved “Certified Green Restaurant® [from] … the Green Restaurant Association (GRA)”

I recently had dinner there (it had been a ling time since I had been there) and noticed that they replaced the china type pales and bowls with plastic and compostable tablewear.

My first reaction was “more junk for the landfill”.  I then  noticed that the table busing area had containers for:

- recyclables (plastics marked #1 or #2)
- compostables (foods)
- trash (all the rest)

The Green Restaurant Association’s mission “ … creating an ecologically sustainable restaurant industry, and … to make the process as simple and effective as possible.    “

Certification includes meeting certain criteria areas including … Water Efficiency, Waste Reduction and Recycling, and Sustainable Furnishings (and more).

Via:  Longwood Gardens LINK and Green Restaurant Association  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Happy New Year … as the Christmas Trees start to come down consider RECYCLING / MULCHING / COMPOSTING rather than landfilling your tree.

Check out their Treecycling Guide …

Check for locations to recycle your tree at Earth911.  Follow the link and enter “Christmas tree” and your ZIP code in the search boxes for locations near you.

Via:  Earth911.org LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Green Planet bottles are 100% made w/o petroleum – 100% from plant based materials.

“ … bottles … that outperforms other biopolymer bottles … a bottle that can be reused as well as biodegradable in a commercial compost in under 85 days.”

The bottles  are:

- free from BPA
- recyclable
- reusable when washed by hand

This bottle reduces reliance on petroleum products and since it is compostable can reduce landfill space … as well as just be recycled

It looks like a good deal for the planet ….

Via:  Green Planet LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Temple University and Sodexo launched (Sept. 19th) the Waste Not Project.  The program has multiple goals including portion control and nutrition.

One big goal is REDUCING FOOOD WASTE.  

At dinner time – for a week starting Sept. 20 – uneaten food is weighed and recorded.  “ … raise awareness … conscious about what they’re … throwing away …”

“ … conceived in conjunction with Temple’s the Office of Sustainability. … working with Waste Management to deposit leftover food from the dining hall into 64-gallon compost totes. “

Via:  Temple University  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A lot of people compost things like grass clippings and leaves.  Some even compost kitchen scraps like coffee grinds, egg shells and vegetable scraps.

Soon you may be able to toss other non-typical items in the compost bin – see this video for what tomorrow might bring to the compost bin.

Via:  ZDNet  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Check out the  Save Some Green at 2005 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pa.v

"ALL of our products are better for the environment ... Recycled, Recyclable, Biodegradable, Compostable, ... Sustainable, ... Less-wasteful, Local – or a combination."

The store fixtures are reused or made from bamboo or recycled cardboard. 

" .... carry products which are reasonably priced ... "

They offer to recycle materials such as # 3 - # 7 plastics and even take food for composting !

Check out their website to learn more about what they do and what they offer LINK

Don't live in Philadelphia - see their Amazon store !

Posted by Green Dude at 05:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My son showed me this neat green packaging product ...

Companies are looking to reduce the environmental footprint of their packaging materials and are moving away from foamed PP and PS.

Using a green packaging material is a great differentiator and can minimize the downstream waste that is generated as part of the product life cycle.

"EcoCradle™ ... made of agricultural byproducts ... from renewable sources. ... is just as reliable, easy to use,
and affordable ..."

" ... literally grown, ... uses a filamentous fungi (mushroom roots) to bond this packaging into almost any shape. ..."

When it comes time to dispose of this packaging material you can break it into small pices and add to your garden, put it in a compost pile or even throw it in the trash where it will decompose EVEN WITHOUT oxygen !

Posted by Green Dude at 07:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New epoch requires new science to sustain the planet.  …

…   “We need bio-adaptive technologies to render waste a thing of the past, among them compostable cars and gadgets.”   …

Via Yale Univ, environment 360: New epoch.

Posted by Green Tech at 09:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lafayette College students have a program underway with the end goal of reducing by 1,000 lbs / day the amount of food scraps sent to landfill.  The composted food will be turned to compost and used in the college gardens.  Full cycle back to the kitchen !

As this is being done on a large scale some special equipment homeowners might not need was required ... " ... two industrial-strength food pulpers that pulverize food remains ... " were needed. 

Via:  Morning Call LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 04:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The University of San Francisco has a Green Team that focuses on sustainability.  One interesting outcome was to modify water fountains so they more easily fill water bottles - helping to foster using a reusable bottle.

" ... reduce the ... use of plastic water bottles by using refillable bottles and drinking tap water. ... switching to compostable flatware to assist the composting program ... starting composting in the residence halls ..."

Via:  University of San Francisco  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Happy Father's Day.

Remember to incorporate some green ideas into your celebration.

Enjoy the day and be green - they can go hand in hand.  Teach as green lesson.  Lead by example.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Use compostable plates or normal dishes instead of throw away paper plates.   Use a gas grill instead of wood or charcoal (less GHG).  Use local produce / meat / stuff.  Watch your carbon footprint.

Happy Father's Day.

Via:  GreenTechnolog.com  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dell is using new bamboo packaging materials that are compostable making them easier to dispose of in places other than a dumpster (read landfill).  The result is a more sustainable packaging solution.

" ... mechanically pulped bamboo ... will compost and biodegrade ... comparable to known compostable materials ..."

" ... building on its commitment to make ‘being green’ easy and cost-effective for customers. "

So why bamboo ?  Bamboo is a natural as it is fast growing, strong and " ... doesn't require replanting after harvest".

Via:  Dell  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dell will package your computer equipment for delivery in certified compostable bamboo cradles.  The packaging has been certified for its composting performance.  Bamboo grows fast and can be harvested sustainably.  Dell sources its bamboo from China.  The company is focusing on creating a sustainable footprint for its value chain, which includes improving the waste stream generated from the packaging of its products.  …

…   “The packaging recently received American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-6400 certification. This certification confirms the packaging, made from mechanically pulped bamboo from a Forest Stewardship Council-certified bamboo forest in China, will compost and biodegrade at a rate comparable to known compostable materials when added to a hot, active compost pile.

The certification also assures that the compost resulting from the packaging’s degradation process is of good quality and can sustain plant growth.”   …

Via Dell: Bamboo Packaging Certified Compostable.

Posted by Green Tech at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am always on the lookout for something GREEN to write about ... the advertising on some Chinet products caught my eye.

While at my local Costco last night I saw some interesting information info on Chinet plates ... they are now compostable !!

"Preserving natural resources for future generations is important to us, and to our extended family, which includes you. So, start to finish, we pursue sustainable practices, from using recycled materials to produce our disposable tableware products to reducing the amount of energy we use and waste we create to make them. "

They have "how to do it" instructions for composting their plates along with other compostable material ...  LINK

 Chinet is made by Huhtamaki  Americas

Via: Chinet  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 08:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

San Francisco now accepts compostable materials as part of its waste stream pick up ... there are now 3 bins:

black = trash
blue = recyclables
green = compostables

" ... designed to make recycling easier, reduce waste, and control litter. ... green cart is for all compostable items, such as food scraps and yard trimmings. ... allows San Francisco to ... achieve the state-mandated 50% recycling goal."

Acceptable for composting are food scraps, yard waste, paper and cardboard and select otehr items.  For a complete list see San Francisco COMPOSTABLES".  They accepts more than you would expect ... lots more!

Do you compost?  Why not?

I do (myself in my back yard) and it quickly turns into nice mulch ... 

Posted by Green Dude at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Composting is a way to reduce demand on landfills and create great soil for plants in your own back yard. Composting can even reduce the number of trash pickups you need and might save you some money .... going from twice a week to once a week. It's good for you and good for the environment. Want to learn more about composting? check out BPI ... " ... a not-for-profit association ... from government, industry and academia ... Through our innovative "Compostable Label" we educate manufacturers, legislators and consumers about the importance of "Scientific standards for biodegradation" for biodegradable materials. ... promote the use and recovery of compostable materials through municipal and backyard composting." " ... the amount of waste that has been diverted from landfill disposal through composting has quadrupled since 1990, from 2% of total MSW to 8.4% today ... 62% of all yard trimmings are composted in more than 3,500 municipal yard trimming composting programs in the US and 23 states ban at least some organics disposal in landfills, mostly leaves, grass and other yard debris. "

Via:  BPI - Biodegradable Products Institute LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"International Paper ... seek ways to improve our environmental impact while creating better solutions for our customers. ... partner with companies who share our values. ... goal is to create packaging made from fully renewable resources that leave a smaller environmental footprint. ... first step is ecotainer® - ... line of BPI certified compostable packaging ... includes paper hot cups, paper cold cups, food containers, ...  ecotainer® uses a plastic lining made from plants. All products are compostable ..."

Via:  International Paper  LINK

Continue reading "ecotainer® by International Paper" »

Posted by Green Dude at 08:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For those who follow this blog and live in Cherry Hill, NJ - check out Sustainable Cherry Hill.

" ... The goal of Sustainable Cherry Hill is to help educate and empower our community to view the world through a different set of glasses and to act upon this new understanding of the world. We are all in this together and the one resource that Cherry Hill possesses is PEOPLE! Lots of folks making small changes will result in large scale transformation."

"We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors,
we are borrowing it from our children"

Via:  Sustainable Cherry Hill  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 09:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Yesterday I found packaged green peppers in what looked like a paper tray rather than #6 PS foam trays.  The product is labeled 100 compostable and 100% biodegradable and is made by Biospherecorp. 

Compostable and biodegradable beats PS foam!  Made from starch that is used as it is and not converted to plastic first ...

" ...Biosphere® Industries joined forces with Sealed Air Corporation, ... as a joint venture partner to bring a new class of sustainable biodegradable packaging products to market. ... Renew-a-Pak® and Blueware™ product lines are  ... ultra earth friendly starch based packaging systems.  ... do not convert starch into plastic, but bake it, similar to the process of making bread, waffles or ice cream cones. ... manufacture rigid packaging products that perform unlike anything else on earth."

" ... made primarily of starches such as tapioca and potatoes and a smaller percentage of grass fibers making them not only biodegradable, but Earth friendly ... Custom engineered packaging shapes and sizes may be infused with signature colors and custom aromas."

" ... Renew-a-Pak's product line is readily naturally compostable and garbage disposal safe.  ... biodegrade completely in 40 days outdoors ... or 10 days in a commercial compost environment while enjoying an indoor shelf life of many years ..."

Via:  biosphereindustries  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)