One of Ithaca, New York’s dog parks has taken on the task of composting dog waste. What a great way to keep it out of landfills and put it to good use!
Category : Animals
Something a little patriotic on this Fourth of July…
Ecorazzi reports that The White House will be composting soon! How awesome!
White House Building Three Kitchen-Waste Compost Bins
Filed under: green and famous — Michael Andre d’Estries @ 9:33 pm | Share on Facebook
For all those jacked into the non-stop revolving door of gossip that is the White House vegetable garden, chew on this!
The latest dirt is that the White House kitchen is getting ready to contribute to next year’s garden by installing three compost bins on site. The South Lawn veggie plot has done so well this year (resulting in ridiculous conspiracy theories) thanks to the soil used in the beds. U.S. News says that one of the secret ingredients was a shipment of compost from New York celebrity chef Dan Barber.
On Tuesday San Francisco passed an ordinance to help realize their goal of zero waste by 2020. I love how progressive San Fran is and which Chicago would adopt the same ordinance.
Press Release from the City of San Francisco
Mayor Newsom Signs Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance
Measure is Key to Reaching 75% Landfill Diversion
06/23/09 – Mayor Gavin Newsom today signed mandatory recycling legislation requiring residential and commercial building owners to sign up for recycling and composting services.
Mayor Newsom’s ordinance will require all residences and businesses in San Francisco to take advantage of the city’s recycling and composting collection programs. While several other cities require recycling service and participation, San Francisco is the first city to require the collection of food scraps and other compostables. Refuse collection has been mandatory since the 1930s.
“San Francisco has the best recycling and composting programs in the nation, and we’ve already attained an impressive, and first in the nation, 72 percent recycling rate because of them,” said Mayor Newsom. “I am pleased with the leadership the Board of Supervisors has demonstrated on this important legislation. By collaborating with all of our stakeholders, businesses, colleagues, and citizens, we can build on our success and continue to lead the nation in recycling.”
A comprehensive study conducted by the Department of the Environment found that 36 percent of what San Francisco sends to landfills is compostable, primarily food scraps, and 31 percent is recyclable—which is mostly paper. There are facilities in the City and surrounding areas that reuse, recycle, compost or otherwise process and market most materials discarded in San Francisco, saving this material from landfill and creating green-collar jobs.
Newsom said a primary goal of the mandatory recycling ordinance, which was co-sponsored by Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi and Chris Daly, is to get recycling and composting happening in buildings where it is not currently provided.
According to the San Francisco Department of the Environment, if all of the recyclable and compostable materials currently going to landfills were captured by the city’s programs, San Francisco’s recycling rate would soar from 72 percent to 90 percent.
No fines are specified in the ordinance, but there is a cap of $100 established for residences and businesses that generate less than one cubic yard of refuse per week, which is the equivalent of six 32-gallon carts. Fines higher than $100 may still apply to businesses and to landlords of large apartment buildings who refuse to offer recycling and composting opportunities to tenants when feasible.
Newsom said that cities with mandatory recycling and fines, such as Seattle, rarely assess such fines. He stressed that fines serve primarily to heighten public awareness and encourage compliance.
There will be a hazardous waste recycling event on Saturday, May 9th at DeVry University, 3401 North Rockwell from 9AM – 3PM. This is your opportunity to drop-off old or unused prescription and non-prescription medications, computers, cell phones, fax machines, scanners, keyboards, household chemicals, lead or oil-based paints, old gas cans or gas powered lawn mowers. (They will NOT accept latex paint or televisions.) While there you can pick-up a compost bin for $35, a rain barrel for $45, a free compact fluorescent bulb, a free environmentally-friendly gas can when you trade in your old one or a $100 rebate towards a push or electric mower when you drop off your gas powered mower. All items available to Chicago residents only, while supplies last. The only accepted forms of payment will be checks and money orders.
Category : Dining Out, Food & Beverages
Wow! Who would have thought that a Dunkin’ Donuts would lead the way in composting their coffee grounds and paper waste?! I was excited to hear that this new Dunkin’ Donuts in St. Petersburg, FL is not only the first in the chain to be LEED Certified but they have a Mother’s Organics worm composter out back! This is wonderful to see and I hope the idea spreads not only to other Dunkin’ Donuts but to other businesses!
