How to make sustainable choices for cleaners, cups and more
BY BRENDA RUSSELL “R
educe, reuse, recycle” is more than a green catchphrase. It’s a priority list. Th e U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency pictures it as a pyramid, like the food pyramid, but with “source reduction” at its base instead of bread, rice and pasta. But just as the food pyramid has proved confusing (the
U.S. Department of Agriculture recently replaced it), a waste pyramid might come up short in guiding your actions. Just remember that the best way to keep an eye on the environment is to keep an item out of the local landfi ll. Th e most benefi cial move may be simply to think about ways to
cut waste. “Food leſt overs are the single largest component of the waste stream by weight in the United States,” according to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s food waste toolkit. “Americans throw away more than 25 percent of the food we prepare, about 96 billion pounds of food waste each year. In total, the nation spends about $1 billion a year to dispose of food waste.” For a coff ee-service operator, that means not overbuying,
providing smaller portion choices, encouraging customers to refi ll commuter cups or simply leaving room for cream in every cup. Th e EPA also advises businesses and consumers to make
smart purchasing decisions to cut waste, including packaging decisions. Here is a roundup of recent foodservice off erings intended to bring a green approach to your coff ee service.
PLA products are only compostable in commercial compost sites that maintain proper aeration and temperatures of 140° F in the compost pile. Th e following websites can help inform retailers and consumers about buying decisions and recycling opportunities in a given community:
Biodegradable Products Institute: An organization that educates manufacturers, legislators and consumers about the importance of scientifi cally based standards for compostable materials that biodegrade in large composting facilities.
Cedar Grove Composting: Compost maker lists commercially accepted foodservice serving-ware and food container products that have met the company’s requirements.
Planet Green: Th e cable TV channel has a helpful list of compostable household items. Th e Daily Green: Advice on how to have a greener life. Find A Composter: Find composting facilities in your area. 22 | July 2011 • www.specialty-coffee.com
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