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Brandon Cheshire building Civic Space Downtown Phoenix Solar Park. (Photo courtesy of SunHarvest Solar)

Advertorial by Sierra Club Green Home
5/15/2013 

Be the change you wish to see in the world—Brandon can help.

ARIZONA – If you didn’t think you were ready for solar, think again. Brandon Cheshire, Owner & Chief Technical Officer at Arizona-based SunHarvest Solar, recently spoke with us about his own experience going solar and explained why now is the time to transition to the bright side.

Between the incentives, the savings, and the environmental benefits, an investment in a solar system is a smart one. Take it from Brandon: he doesn’t just do solar—he lives it.

Q: You founded SunHarvest Solar in 2009, but didn’t install a solar system until December 2011. What made you “go for it” and why is now the time for other people to do the same?

A: Initially, I was more focused on my customers than my own energy independence. But once I sat down and went through all the numbers, I was ecstatic that I could easily afford the products I had been raving about, and then a little upset with myself I hadn’t considered it sooner!

There are so many diverse ways to go solar today that don’t require any money up front. There are great leasing and financing options available, but the best option is the purchase of your own solar system. Think about it this way: Buying a solar system can be like buying a car, only the solar system actually saves you money every day, doesn’t pollute the air, generates your electricity, requires almost zero maintenance, and will run for a guaranteed 25 years!

Everyone buys a car; why doesn’t everyone buy a solar system? Seems like a much better investment to me. Plus with what you save on energy, you can afford that car too! Now is the time, now will always be the time. The incentives are disappearing, and energy costs will continue to rise. There is a transition going on, why wait?

Q: Can you explain the incentives you’re referring to?

A: The state of Arizona is offering a one-time tax credit of $1,000 for installing a solar system.

Plus, the Federal government is offering a 30% tax credit, set to expire at the end of 2016. The Federal credit even includes additional home improvements to accommodate the solar system install—like a new roof, a new electrical panel upgrade, or even moving an air conditioner!

Utility companies also offer incentives. Arizona Public Service (APS) is currently offering a rebate incentive of $0.10/dc watt of solar installed, and Salt River Project (SRP) is currently offering a rebate incentive of $0.10. These incentives have already been reduced in just the past few weeks—don’t miss out!

Q: What are the steps involved in taking advantage of these local incentives and rebates?

A: The local incentives through the utility company require an application which can only be submitted after the engineering has been completed. It is a very simple process that we work through directly with the customer. Typically, we handle the entire process for our customers; we just require their authorization to submit paperwork on their behalf.

Clients can claim the tax credits when filing their taxes at the end of the installed year. We always advise our customers to verify that they have the appropriate tax liability to receive the tax credits.

Q: What are the costs involved in getting initial consultations and/or quotations?

A: SunHarvest offers truly free quotations. If any customer is genuinely interested, all they need to do is provide us with 1) Home address, and 2) Annual energy consumption in Kilowatt hours (Kwh) provided by utility company. We are very clear, honest, and transparent with our consultations and analyses. Every quotation comes with a financial return on investment (ROI) analyses, and shows you exactly what you can expect with either a purchased, financed, or leased solar system.

Q: What sort of ROI are you enjoying? And what can your customers expect?

A: Because I capitalized early when the utility rebates were higher, and benefited from being able to install the solar system myself, my solar system paid for itself within nine months! I will never worry about my energy costs again, and that is guaranteed for 25 years.

Our customers can expect to see a return on investment within five years, and an annual return of 16-20% over 20 years.

Q: How long did it take you to go solar?

A: It took me six weeks from start to finish. I had to wait a few weeks to get my reservation approved from APS, but they have since expedited the application process. We are now getting these systems installed within one month from the date customers sign the contract to go green with SunHarvest.

Q: How does your business reflect your confidence in solar technology and your commitment to a more sustainable future?

A: We truly practice what we preach here at SunHarvest. Both owners are committed to solar energy, sustainability, and ethical progress. Both owners have solar powered homes that will produce clean energy into the foreseeable future.

We have seen many companies come and go over the last four years, including the corporations that provided my solar education and cemented my commitment to the renewable industry. SunHarvest has never sought out capital or outside investment; we have just grown from within. No debt, no loans, no outside influence, or corporate meddling here. SunHarvest will continue to grow in a sustainable manner, continuing our altruistic agenda and promoting clean, green energy.

Q: Finally, can you explain your passion for conserving energy?

A: It comes down to what I value most in this life, and my ultimate mission to attain happiness versus wealth. I am fortunate to be able to make an honest living doing something I love, something that is beneficial to everyone, something that is admirable and virtuous, something my family can be proud of, and something that improves the quality of life for everyone involved.

Getting into the solar industry seemed like the most productive way I could harness my skills, benefit others, love what I do, and live up to my mantra: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” That is my real passion—a progressive voice and body, actively aggregating change for the better.

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If you’re local to Arizona and are interested in going solar, get in touch with Brandon and learn more about SunHarvest Solar here.

To read more about the energy efficiency upgrades Brandon made to his now net zero home, check back for our article, “9 Simple Steps to a Carbon Neutral Home”—coming soon!

For related articles, see:

Solar: Powered by Community
SB 843: California Community Solar Increases Access
Four Steps to Becoming a Renewable Energy Resident
Solar Incentives for Los Angeles and San Diego Homeowners

© 2013 SCGH, LLC.

The post Installing a Solar System: Yes You Can! appeared first on Sierra Club Green Home.

Show Your Face for Climate Change: Earth Day is Monday, April 22^nd

The post Earth Day 2013 appeared first on Sierra Club Green Home.

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The California Redwood Company controls approximately 40 percent of the redwood lumber market, so their FSC Chain-of-Custody certification is a big win for the environment. (Photo courtesy of The California Redwood Company)

Advertorial by Sierra Club Green Home
4/16/2013 

As consumers, we’re faced with an almost overwhelming number of choices at every turn. Whether we’re buying groceries, choosing modes of transportation, or making home renovations, our purchasing decisions hold a lot of power. When we vote with our dollars and speak up for our values, companies start to listen. Recently, Green Diamond Resource Company achieved Forest Management certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and its subsidiary, The California Redwood Company, earned FSC Chain-of-Custody certification, ensuring that all certified timber is properly tracked from the forest to the point of purchase. These certifications are not only huge for Green Diamond, they’re huge for consumers.

The California Redwood Company controls approximately 40 percent of the redwood lumber market, with Green Diamond’s California operations covering about 400,000 acres of forestland in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties on the North Coast. With these certifications, over 70 percent of the redwood market is now certified under the Forest Stewardship Council Standards. “At its core, this is a story about the power of the marketplace to drive positive change in the forest,” said Corey Brinkema, President of the Forest Stewardship Council’s US national office. “As a member-led democracy, FSC brings together diverse interests to set robust environmental and social standards that go far beyond what is required by law. It’s encouraging to see the market demanding forest stewardship,” he added.

For decades, Green Diamond has made considerable efforts to maintain habitats and implement innovative forest management practices. Neal Ewald, Vice President and General Manager of the company’s California Timberlands Division, believes that FSC standards are “well aligned with the values of our company, and earning certification allows us to demonstrate those values publicly.” In other words, it’s important to the company to have the highest environmental credibility for the consumer—and dedicating over a year to rigorous and comprehensive assessment and by third party SCS Global Services was worth it.

The key new measures employed to achieve the certification include protection of old-growth stands, retaining an average of 27 percent of the standing trees in harvested units, and consulting with Native American communities. Consistent with the company’s federally-approved Habitat Conservation Plans, many trees are now retained in each harvest unit to maintain and enhance complex habitat elements that benefit numerous wildlife species inhabiting redwood forests.  This new approach to harvest enhances habitat conservation by assuring that crucial and unique habitat elements remain on the landscape over time. Certification also requires ongoing improvements and annual surveillance audits.

With 70% of redwood lumber now certified to FSC standards, it’s easier for all consumers to make more forest-friendly purchases. But how do you ensure an environmentally sound choice when you’re looking for lumber? California Redwood says they usually brand their logo at the ends of lumber, and that you can ask the retailer where the lumber is coming from. Speak up, ask questions, and keep voting with your dollars. After all, as a consumer—you hold the power!

Read more about Green Diamond’s California responsible forest management plans and reports here, and learn more about environmentally friendly options for decks and outdoor living at SierraClubGreen Home.com.

For related articles, see:
Environmentally Friendly Lumber and Panel Products
Environmentally Friendly Wood Floors
Environmentally Friendly Decks

© 2013 SCGH, LLC.

The post FSC Certified Lumber: Available by Popular Demand appeared first on Sierra Club Green Home.

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EnvironmentNEXT features real solutions and actionable measures we can all take to help fight climate change.

Advertorial by Sierra Club Green Home
4/10/2013 

There’s a new environmental news publication stepping up to the plate, and this one aims to connect you to the big picture. A subsidiary of the Carbonfund.org Foundation and aptly named EnvironmentNEXT, the site focuses on improving tomorrow’s future with today’s solutions. With topics including environmental news, policy insight, and new technology overviews, EnvironmentNEXT brings a fresh discussion to the table about the interconnectedness of environmental issues and the practical solutions addressing the fight against climate change. Sierra Club Green Home got a first look at the new site set to launch in April, 2013.

“EnvironmentNEXT will feature solutions that we believe our readership should learn about and support, through their power of the vote and their own personal activism,” says Eric Carlson, president of the Carbonfund.org Foundation. The publication will include blogs written by Carlson himself, as well as Carbonfund.org staff members and other opinion leaders, including environmental activists and experts.

In addition to posting blogs on the site, EnvironmentNEXT is pursuing a mission to create and cultivate a community of highly engaged environmental leaders, readers, and activists.  “We will use the full range of social media in order to provide timely and worthwhile articles and information, including email alerts to our subscriber base and regular social media posts and interactions,” explains Carlson. By following and interacting with EnvironmentNEXT online, Carlson adds, you will “join a community dedicated to sharing environmental news and furthering efforts to find and implement solutions to address the negative impact of climate change on our world.”

If you’re looking for a site that informs and inspires, take a look at EnvironmentNEXT. You can even take a shortcut to the “Solutions” tab on the site where you can read about the projects in place or being proposed around the world that have the greatest ability to make strides against the damaging effects of climate change. Here’s to the next wave of environmental news—and being part of the solution.

About the Carbonfund.org Foundation
As North America’s leading nonprofit climate services and carbon reduction provider, Carbonfund.org is pioneering solutions to the negative effects of climate change through our mission toward a ZeroCarbon™ world. We support projects that fight global warming today, lead to market transformation tomorrow, and benefit local communities now and into the future. EnvironmentNEXT will serve to further the mission of the Carbonfund.org Foundation in the areas of climate change education and public outreach.

For related articles, see:
Los Angeles Interactive Online
Environmental Education Goes Social With Practically Green
Top Ten Smartphone Apps for an Eco-Friendly Home & Lifestyle

© 2013 SCGH, LLC.

The post The NEXT Wave of Environmental News: EnvironmentNEXT.org appeared first on Sierra Club Green Home.

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This is a depiction of the CRC Park Roofed Bridge from high atop the park itself. This artwork shows the real magic of the design. We can all take a deep breath, and imagine walking across the park a hundred feet above one of the great rivers in the world, while viewing the frosty dome of Mt. St. Helens.

Guest Post and Images by Bill Badrick
3/12/2013 

Building a bridge in the 21st century must be done better and differently than it was done in the past. As we develop plans to build a modern bridge over the Columbia River, we must reflect our understanding of global warming and our dedication to salmon preservation. The Columbia River Crossing (CRC) Bridge should illustrate our best design response to difficult conditions. It should be green and multi-modal. It should have light rail, bicycle, and pedestrian service to balance the car and truck capacity. The CRC Bridge will have a massive carbon footprint, and we need to mitigate it with green design.

Sierra Club Green Homes opens up to hear about one simple and powerful way to do this: build a “park roof” on top of the CRC Bridge. The park roof will be a tool to capture the rainfall that would otherwise land on the road surface and mix with the oil and gas that falls off of vehicles. Traditionally, stormwater pollution is expensive to treat—pollution treatment facilities cost in the area of 12 to 15 million. In addition to the facility, a conventional bridge roadway must be made to slope to drains, which fill hundreds of pipes that are routed to the treatment plant. All of these metal drains and pipes cost money and add to the carbon footprint of the bridge. By contrast, the park roof would need only a small gauge recycled plastic pipe sprinkler system that can be powered by solar panels. By capturing the rain fall with the park roof, we can save money—and save the salmon.

The federal government’s recent studies on green roofs, which had previously been predicted to absorb 75% of rainfall, found that they actually captured nearly 95% of the rainfall. Based on these findings, the park roof will save us a great deal of money and improve the carbon footprint dramatically. The CRC park roof will be about 370,000 square feet, and Portland receives roughly 37.5 inches of rain a year. This amounts to almost 14 million cubic feet of water captured and almost $170,000 saved.

From a design perspective, the park roof also promises benefits. The roof will be a curved cap to the bridge, making the bridge a good deal more aerodynamic. This efficient design shape will reduce structural stresses, thus reducing cost. It is likely the savings due to better wind performance will account for the cost of the additional park support frame. Plus, as bridges are engineered to be three times stronger than needed, the additional 23 lbs/sq ft load will be absorbed on the base structure with no additional load cost. It is important to note that the park ‘dirt’ is made of very lightweight engineered growing medium, anchored to a matrix net to make it wind and erosion proof—this is not your grandma’s garden.

The park roof will be a one-of-a-kind, world-class green public facility. It can be the sign and symbol of Green Portland, Green Oregon, and Green Northwest! We love our solar plants and windmill fleets, but they are out of sight, and thus out of mind. The CRC park roof will greet every visitor driving from the north and every airline passenger flying into the airport. The vast arcing park high above the mighty Columbia River will draw green tourists from around the world.

An eco-tourist business is what we should naturally grow—with our stunning natural landscapes, many outdoor activities, and open, progressive thinking. The final icing on the cake to draw this new enormous green travel business is a powerful symbol that clearly represents our green beliefs. The park roofed, multi-modal CRC Bridge can be our ‘Green Golden Gate’—our ‘Green Gateway’ to the Northwest.

About the author: Bill Badrick creates park roof proposals in large pastel artworks to educate and inspire politicians and change-agents to think outside the box when it comes to our large and visually prominent bridges and buildings.

For related articles, see:
An Underground Eco Park in NYC 
Park in the Sky: New York’s High Line
Build A Greener Block Transforms Las Vegas

© 2013 SCGH, LLC.

The post Columbia River Crossing: An Alternative Proposal appeared first on Sierra Club Green Home.

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The “hands-on” compactor makes us think about trash. Even this simple interaction with the trash receptacle helps “show [kids] how much trash they produce."

By Sierra Club Green Home
2/27/2013 

The Question

A few years ago, Sierra Club Green Home explored the question, “Do trash compactors really reduce landfill space?” and we concluded, “No, they don’t really make a difference.” Given the then-current models that were electronically powered and designed to fit only special types of plastic trash bags, it seemed like an unnecessary gadget—especially from Mother Earth’s perspective. Why not just try to produce less trash and re-use grocery bags as trash bags?

A few years later, things have changed: 1) Many of us now use re-usable grocery totes (awesome!), so we don’t have lots of extra disposable bags lying around—or sitting in landfills. 2) We’re also now buying recycled or biodegradable trash bags to line our cans, but they fill up quickly and can get expensive. 3) A new development in trash compactors is about to enter the market which could change things quite a bit.

Thus we’re ready to take another look at the potential benefits of trash compactors—the TK10™ Home Trash Krusher to be exact.  This model, set to release on March 2nd, enables you to manually and cleanly compact your kitchen trash or recycling, right inside the can. By grabbing the handle on the lid and pushing, you can compact household trash down to about half its normal volume, without getting trash on your sleeve. This means fewer trips to the curb and fewer plastic trash bags.

“One of the core ideas behind the TK10™ was to try to alleviate the impact that plastic has on our environment,” says co-inventor John Hyle. “Plastic bags have a hard time decomposing to begin with, but without the exposure to sunlight and air, they may take more than 500 years to biodegrade.  With the TK10™, our customers will be using less plastic and making fewer trips to the waste can.”

The Test

That sounds like a good idea, but will recycled or biodegradable bags hold up inside the can?  Are they strong enough?  We decided to put the “eco-friendly” Trash Krusher to the test.

Since the TK10™ was a prototype, we asked co-inventor Pete Ellman to purchase specific eco-friendly trash bags and have his research team monitor the results according to our criteria.  “We purchased Seventh Generation 13 gallon Recycled Trash Bags (a typical environmentally friendly specification of bag), and we are happy to report that they worked flawlessly in the TK10™ Trash Krusher.  Despite the increased weight loads, and additional stress put upon the bags during removal and disposal due to heavier weight, no additional tearing, ripping or general failures of bag performance were noted,” according to Ellman’s research team.

The Analysis

So, this time around, what’s our verdict? Overall, while trash compactors don’t necessarily reduce landfill space, the TK10™—and others like it—offer some promising earth-friendly benefits:

1. Encourages plastic reduction: Use eco-friendly trash bags—and fewer of them!
Using half as many plastic kitchen trash bags is great. Using half as many recycled or biodegradable kitchen trash bags is even better.

2. Smart design: Human-powered and made to fit the masses.
Unlike previous trash compactors, the TK10™ does not use electricity or require special bags. “To me, the best designs in the world are the simplest ones,” said Ellman.

3. Promotes awareness: The “hands-on” compactor makes us think about trash.
Kids (not advised for the littlest ones) have fun ‘krushing’ down the trash, Ellman explained. Even this simple interaction with the trash receptacle helps “show them how much trash they produce … [they see] how frequently it fills up.”

4. Works for recyclables: Not just for landfill trash.
In an ongoing effort to reduce landfill trash, we recommend looking beyond the trash can by composting food waste and recycling responsibly. The TK10™ can also help here, Pete says, because it can smash down recyclables like paper and plastic products.

To learn more about the TK10™ Home Trash Krusher, watch Easy as 1,2,3 or Everybody’s Talkin’ Trash, or visit them online.

For related articles, see:
Trash Compactors: Do They Really Reduce Landfill Space?
Curbside Food Waste Collection: A Growing Trend
Top 10 Reasons to Compost
Garbage Disposal: Do You Really Need One?

© 2013 SCGH, LLC.

The post Trash Compactors: Another Look appeared first on Sierra Club Green Home.

The post Win a “Whole Home Assessment” valued at $600! appeared first on Sierra Club Green Home.

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Users can always discover new ways to go green by browsing new actions, joining groups, accepting and suggesting challenges and connecting with their social network. (Photo courtesy of Practically Green)

By Sierra Club Green Home
2/12/2013 

In 2006, Susan Hunt Stevens embarked on a healthy green lifestyle makeover but couldn’t find the resources she needed. After lots of digging, reading, and blogging—and taking on a graduate program in Sustainable Design—she created Practically Green to help people who want to live healthy, sustainable lives…but aren’t sure where to start. Sierra Club Green Home interviewed Susan to learn more about how Practically Green brings environmental education to the interactive social space—and beyond.

Where did YOU start? What resources did you pull together, and how did you go about developing this solution for “greening people”?

I began as a mother with an almost two-year-old diagnosed with serious food and environmental allergies. I started reading labels and researching ingredients I didn’t know, and was frankly shocked at what I was finding. Then I started reading anything I could, including books and magazines. I found that blogs were the most helpful, which gave me the idea to start blogging about the changes we were making in our own family.

About half way through a major “green renovation” of a historic home, I enrolled in a graduate program in Sustainable Design. In my third course, we were exposed to the LEED system and I kept thinking, “Why isn’t there a LEED for daily living?” That was the original vision for Practically Green. However, given my background in digital technology, I also knew it would never work if it didn’t leverage great content, real science, and the power of social and game mechanics to drive real-life behavior change.

Your approach utilizes gamification, social media, and interactive technology as a vehicle for sharing sustainability knowledge. Can you explain this approach?

We use game mechanics to create a shared framework for people to share, compare, compete and collaborate because unlike weight loss or fitness, there is no shared scale or national guidelines for sustainability.  The game framework provides that scale and then encourages ongoing participation and motivation.

The social mechanics are equally powerful because they address the issue of visibility. Most sustainable choices are invisible.  My colleagues and friends likely have no idea if I’ve turned down my power settings on my computer, switched to an LED light, or signed up for eBills or green power.  By bringing visibility to who in your social network has done these things, it can leverage the power of social norms to drive change.  If I see that 85% of my colleagues have switched to eBilling, I’m likely to switch too.

How is it unique to other forms of “environmental education”?

It’s similar to the changes occurring in all education, not just environmental. It’s moving it online and going from one-way transmission of information to an interactive, engaging, social experience that is more effective.  What we also believe we’ve done well is taking what can oftentimes be hard (and even guilt-inducing) information and making it more accessible and solution-oriented.

For many of us, sustainability isn’t something that we grew up learning about in school. So there is a huge population that really would like to do something, but they are busy, have other priorities, and no idea where to start or the time to figure it out. We use the power of discovery and social recognition to inspire that first step.  When people see both positive reinforcement from peers and the real time impact they are making, they are more likely to take another steps—and another.

You work with companies all over the world to engage and educate their employees, members, and customers. Can you disclose the names of any of your clients?

We have more than 17 global clients, including Fortune 500 companies, as well as sustainability leaders like Seventh Generation. Our clients range from companies that want to start a sustainability program, to others that want to enhance an existing program.

Please share one of your greatest success stories.

I think one of our biggest successes to date has been the growth of our employee engagement platform. Having CSOs and business executives tell us that they love what we are doing and want to make it available to their employees or customers wasn’t something I expected at the outset. But companies are really the pioneers in sustainability and it’s been amazing to see how our solution is helping them achieve their sustainability goals.

How does your success directly relate to your mission to make healthy green living the conventional way of life?

If you had told me ten years ago that I would be a big time tree-hugger, I would have laughed out loud. What I realized after making many of these changes personally is that sustainable, healthy living is just smarter living for the 21^st century. It saves money, but I also honestly believe many of these choices can make people and families happier and healthier. Companies have figured this out too.

However, I truly understand that it is really hard for people to change. It’s so NOT easy being green when you first get started.  The challenges can feel daunting because it touches everything: your food, your transportation, your home, and anything you purchase. If we can provide a solution that makes these choices simpler, faster, and way more fun—and people get access and encouragement to participate at work—I think that will reach more people more quickly.

How does the social element come into play with colleagues at a workplace?

Social is a huge part of the success of Practically Green. The people you work with often become influencers in your life, mostly because you spend so much time together. So when someone finds a new coffee shop around the corner that gives a ten-cent discount for brining in a reusable mug and they share that information as part of an action they take, it is adding to your overall arsenal of sustainability knowledge.

For businesses, what are the advantages of Practically Green compared to an in-person seminar or workshop?

The biggest advantage is that you can participate in Practically Green 24×7, 365 days a year, from any digital device. As a result, every employee can participate at a time and place that works for him or her, from any office location you have.  We also cover a wide variety of topics, and employees can choose what they are most interested in versus having one topic that may or may not excite people. It is customized to the goals of the company, as well as the individual, and allows both the company and employee to see the real-time metrics of the actions that they are taking. It finally gives context to the age-old sustainability question: “Does it even matter if I do this?” Because individuals and companies can see that yes, it does actually make a difference if you carpool to work one day a week, or shut down your computer each night before leaving the office.

For individuals who decide to join (independent of a businesses or invitation from a friend), what advice can you give for making the most of Practically Green?

We have a saying that Practically Green without friends is NO fun. Get your friends to join, set goals, and take some actions. Remember: you don’t have to do everything all at once. We also have a great product directory that is something that we vet and curate on an ongoing basis. It’s a way to help you navigate the world of green products, which can oftentimes be confusing.

How many people now work at Practically Green full-time?

We have 16 full time and 3 part time employees. It’s amazing for me to see our company, which literally started at my kitchen table, move into a beautiful new office space in Boston and quadruple in size!

Can you disclose your revenue numbers?

I can say that last year was our most successful year to date. We continue to see an influx of businesses looking to engage employees in a real and measurable way, and that is what they are able to achieve with our program.

Since starting Practically Green, how has your experience influenced/inspired/changed your dreams about sustainable living?  

For me, it’s a journey that has no defined end. I have been creating goals for myself for over five years now and still have so much to do! The innovations in this space are truly remarkable, and I think will give all of us plenty to do for years to come. That said, I think I respect even more the need for people, companies and governments to work together to make it easier for people.

Visit PracticallyGreen.com.

For related articles, see:

Los Angeles Interactive Sustainability
Teaching Kids Environmentalism with Edible Schoolyards
Being Green…It’s More Than Just Buying Trendy Products
Opportunity Green Start-up: Practically Green

© 2013 SCGH, LLC.

The post Environmental Education Goes Social with Practically Green appeared first on Sierra Club Green Home.

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Many communities provide kitchen composting pails for residents to make it easy for them to collect food scraps for composting. (Photo by Larry Strong, Courtesy of Recology)

By Debra Atlas
2/5/2013

Almost half of the nearly 250 million tons of garbage that winds up in landfills in the U.S. each year could be composted.  An average single-family household throws away about 45 pounds of food scraps and food-soiled paper every month—around 25% of total trashed materials! Sierra Club Green Home explores a growing trend that creates a viable alternative to this: curbside food waste collection.

Already over 160 communities in 16 states have implemented curbside food waste collection programs. “The growth trajectory [for these programs] has been increasing by about 50 percent for the past three years,” said Rhodes Yepsen, an organics recycling expert from biodegradable and compostable materials developer Novamont North America. “The number of food waste facilities in the U.S. is growing, and many yard trimming [compost] facilities are applying for new permitting to make the switch to food waste collection.”

Composting organic waste—like kitchen scraps and yard trimmings—can be recycled into valuable compost used to enrich soil in landscaping and road construction projects. It also helps reduce the amount of methane, a by-product of landfill and food waste, that’s released into the air. A report issued by the EPA in 2011 noted that composting all the food scraps in California, for example, would cut emissions by 5.8 million metric tons each year.

Supermarkets and restaurants can also make a difference by participating in these programs. “Supermarkets generate large volumes of organic [waste],” said Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell. “And, combined with recycling programs for cardboard and shrink wrap, [they] can recycle more than 70 percent of the waste they generate.”

Leading the trend since 1996, San Francisco’s programs have helped to divert 80 percent of waste from its landfills, explained Robert Reed of San Francisco’s Recology, a resource recovery center in the city.  Over the past four years, Recology has seen an increase of green bin tonnage from 350 tons to 600 tons each day day! Reed noted that, over an eleven year period, San Francisco has reduced the tonnage going to landfills by 49 percent. “It’s the highest [percentage of diversion] in North America.”

Along with increased diversion, these programs produce a cost savings. With consumers reducing their garbage through food scrap programs, landfill waste collectors can reduce their weekly collections. In places like Portland, Oregon; King County, Washington; and several counties in Minnesota; composting programs have allowed a cut in weekly garbage collections to every other week.

Many towns provide kitchen scrap pails and encourage the use of approved compostable bags for collecting food waste. Some programs are “pay-as-you-throw”; others offer varied rates to customers.

So what counts as “food waste”?

• Food scraps such as fruits and vegetables, meat, fish and bones, bread, pasta and baked goods, egg shells, dairy products, and coffee grounds
• Food-soiled paper goods such as paper towels and napkins, paper plates and cups, and pizza boxes
• Milk and juice cartons
• Egg cartons
• Boxes from frozen and refrigerated foods
• Waxed paper and paper containers
• Coffee filters and tea bags
• And other compostable items such as full vacuum cleaner bags, dryer lint, tissues,  cotton balls, floral trimmings, and house plants

Before launching curbside food waste collection programs, though, communities must take four crucial steps. First, they must create the necessary infrastructure, including establishing a composting facility. Second is mandated city-wide participation. Third, the program must offer convenience—the easier it is, the more likely consumers will achieve satisfactory participation. Lastly, a broad outreach program must be put in place to educate consumers about the benefits of participating, including how they’ll save money.

“People have a hard time understanding what food waste is—it’s the next step after conventional recycling,” Yepsen said. “But it’s solving a lot of problems,” he added.  “We have a topsoil problem. We have a water problem. We don’t want to put chemicals [on things]. Compost helps with [all] that.”

As cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Kansas City, and Boulder are embracing curbside food waste collection programs, they’re seeing real benefits to both the communities and the planet.

Don’t have curbside food waste collection in your neighborhood? You’ve still got options:

• Talk with your local politicians to see if this is a program you can get. Work with your neighbors to draft a letter to your city. Or, contact your waste hauler directly.
• “Waste Management offers food waste collection [services],” Yepsen said. “They might be willing to offer this to [your] neighborhood.”

What do you think about this trend? Comment below.

For related articles, see:
City-Wide Program Composts 1 Million Tons
Top 10 Reasons to Compost
San Francisco vs. Seattle: America’s Greenest City

Read more articles by Debra Atlas.

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