Zero Waste Success Requires WE Consciousness

On May 8 & 9 the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council hosted their second annual conference in Cincinnati, OH with an impressive program of national and global leaders educating, entertaining and inspiring attendees. During day 1 sessions the focus was on overall zero waste success, mainly in the corporate environment. 

"Know Your Trash" emerged as a common theme among presenters.The ZWA Blog post, Know Your Trash, up close & personal, is an overview of the first day sessions. In addition to "Know Your Trash" several other common themes intertwined the presentations. 

Ei Partners @ Conference
names in Ei FB album

After top management buy-in, securing associate engagement supported by consistent, repetitive training was emphasized. Rewarding employees for program participation along with system improvement suggestions was key. On the other hand, peer pressure is an excellent motivator for the late adapters and nay sayers. Simplicity is best when developing program parameters and logistics.

On the second day the conference zeroed in on a food waste focus. The ZWA Blog post, Food Waste Focus at Zero Waste Conference, is a preview of the morning sessions, including the Elemental Impact panel, Zero Waste is a Team Sport.

Lori Scozzafava @ podium

After opening remarks by Gary Liss - USZWBC president & with Gary Liss & Associates, the U.S. Composting Council executive director Lori Scozzafava gave an impressive keynote presentation, State of Commercial Food Scrap Policies and Processes in the United States. After learning about the increase in available permitted food waste destination facilities, Lori fielded questions from the enthusiastic, inquisitive audience.

Next, the Greater Cincinnati Green Business Council hosted the "How the GCGBC is Working to Expand Regional Composting" moderated by Scott Hassell, sustainability manager for Fifth Third Bank at CB Richard Ellis. Cincy exemplifies the power of the WE Consciousness and what may be accomplished when all work together with a common vision. The WE Consciousness was introduced in the ZWA Blog post, Zero Waste is a Team Sport.

Scott Hassell @ podium

Committed to action, the GCGBC completed its first project: Workplace Composting Toolkit, which is available as a downloadable document on their site. Unique in its structure, GCGBC membership is by invitation with in-kind contributions and active participation required. Meetings are held every six weeks and members may only miss two meetings per year. There is no cash exchange; in fact, GCGBC does not have a bank account.


Joining Scott on the panel was Ann Powers - Rumpke Consolidated Companies, Bill Grosas - Luxottica, David Wimmel - Jones Lang LaSalle | Procter & Gamble and Grant Gibson - Compost Cincy, representing the spectrum of necessary players for success. Compost Cincy operates a well-managed composting facility permitted to accept food waste on a long closed landfill about ten miles outside of the city. Rumpke collects and hauls the food waste to Compost Cincy.

Luxottica validated the "lessons learned" discussed in the first day sessions with their impressive zero waste program, including food waste collection. The waste generators - companies like Luxottica - must shift their culture from waste to material management to engage necessary employee participation.  

GCGBC Panel - see FB album for names

Property management companies - Jones Lang LaSalle and CB Richard Ellis - hold the hauling contracts and are critical to a generator's ability to achieve zero waste. In general, the management companies purchase the common area recycling bins and contract with custodial services. It was empowering to witness the zero waste partnership inherent within the Jones Lang LaSalle | P&G and CB Richard Ellis | Fifth Third Bank relationships - the WE Consciousness at work!

The mid-morning breakout sessions continued the theme of "playing well together" for success.  Sue Beets - SBM Management corporate sustainability manager & USZWBC Board Member moderated the Property and Facility Management panel.  Ei Partner Bruce Buchan - CleanRiver Recycling Solutions CEO - joined Randy Van Winkle - SBM Management operations manager - and Richard Kiley - JanPak vice-president of national accounts - on the informative panel.

Gary Liss - Gary Liss & Associates & USZWBC president  - moderated the panel Retail & Reuse featuring Susanne Fredericks with Goodwill and MaryEllen Etienne with Reuse Alliance. Rounding out the breakout session, Ei founder Holly Elmore moderated a hospitality panel, Zero Waste is a Team Sport, of Ei Partners: Scott Lutocka (Piazza Produce), Chris Bradlee (BASF) and Perry Kranias (HMSHost - Tampa Airport).

Stephanie Barger, Holly Elmore &
Jim Larson; photo courtesy of
Scott Lutocka

For lunch attendees gathered in the main conference room for Jim Larson's empowering keynote presentation on the Food Donation Connection's wasted food donation program.  The ZWA Blog post, Reduce First, Donate Second and Compost Third, gives an overview of the tremendous amount of wasted food - edible food no longer suitable for service - that goes to composting or the landfill instead of hungry bellies.

Inherent in the FDC business model is creating a scenario where all win with a food donation program. All is defined as the foodservice operator, facility who contracts for hauling services and the community. The ZWA Blog post: Food Waste Donation: Everyone WINS!, highlights FDC programs implemented in partnership with HMSHost at the Tampa Airport and Concord Mills, a Simon mall in Charlotte, NC. 

Ei Partners Bruce Buchan  &
Clark Seydel of Chemol

In partnership with YUM! Brands, FDC produced an excellent video, HMSHost and Food Donation Connection Food Rescue, on how their system works featuring the Tampa Airport donation program.


Following lunch, the conference program included concurrent topic panels: Organic Recycling Technologies, Supply Chain Management and How to Communicate & Market the Zero Waste Message.  Break-out small group discussions led by USZWBC Board Members closed the excellent conference. 

For a pictorial recap of the conference second day, visit the Ei FB album, 05-09-13 USZWBC Conference - Food Waste Focus.

Congratulations to USZWBC staff - Stephanie Barger, Gary Liss & Emily DeCremer - along with Board Members for orchestrating a phenomenal conference program.  Your work is important and making tremendous impact on creating a zero waste focus standard in business and community models. 

Know Your Trash, up close & personal

At the second annual U.S. Zero Waste Business Council conference held at the Westin Cincinnati May 8 & 9, a common theme emerged from the first day of excellent presentations: Know Your Trash, up close & personal!  Hiring a company to perform a waste audit creates a baseline; participating, literally hands-on, in a waste audit creates a visual of the task at hand. When corporate management witnesses first-hand the waste inherent within operations, a company culture emerges that facilitates creation of zero waste practices that are standard operating practices.


The second conference was a powerful encore performance following the first USZWBC June, 2012 conference in Costa Mesa, CA. Visit the ZWA Blog post, USZWBC hosts first-rate conference, for a program overview. The Ei FB album,  06-12 US Zero Waste Business Council Conference, is a conference pictorial recap.

Cincy Vice Mayor Roxanne Qalls

After a hearty welcome from City of Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls, the stellar 2013 program launched with Robert Bottom's of Honda of America Manufacturing keynote presentation on Honda's zero waste commitment: 94% of material generated is recycled! Robert highlighted associate engagement via an individual and team-based point system.

Three excellent panels along with a small group break-out discussion session were the format for the remaining first-day program.

Corey, Mark, Scott & Stephanie 

The Leading the Way: Businesses and Zero Waste - Diverting over 90% from landfill, incineration and the environment panel included Corey Hawkey - The Ohio State University sustainability coordinator, Scott Stephenson - Mitsubishi Electric America corporate manager, and Mark Fisher - Cincinnati Zoo director of facilities, planning & sustainability.

Corey @ the podium
photo courtesy of Scott Lutocka

In his presentation on OSU's football stadium zero waste achievement, Corey mentioned the first step was a waste audit to understand the material generated. With an average of 105.000 fans per game, OSU led the way to zero waste at major collegiate sport stadiums with no precedent to follow. For more details on OSU's monumental final game 98.2% recycling rate, see the ZWA Blog post, Power of the Voice.

Scott gave an impressive presentation on Mitsubishi's profitable, 98% zero waste program. The first of Scott's 4 Steps to Waste Reduction inspired the blog post name:

1. Know what is in your waste - participate in regular in-house and off-site waste audits; get over "getting dirty" and "bad smells"; take lots of pictures as they tell the story.
2. Remove what can be recycled or reused - a plastic film baler paid for itself in two years; a polystyrene densifier paid for itself in 2 1/2 yrs; 2 tons of coffee grinds per year are composted & given to employees for their home gardens.
3. Reduce what cannot be recycled - began purchasing consumable items in smaller quantities, which reduced unnecessary usage.
4. Maximize waste awareness - 20% of associate bonuses are based on maintaining the 98% recycling rate; Wall of Shame - pictures are taken of associate trash | recycling containers and posted on the Wall of Shame when zero wastes practices not followed.
5. Repeat 1 ~ 4.

One of the most entertaining presentations was Mark's overview of the Cincinnati Zoo's road to zero waste from its 2005 baseline - 0% diversion rate, not even aluminum cans were recycled!  In less than eight years, the Zoo is a hallmark of sustainability, zero waste and beyond.

Once common recycling was addressed, Mark focused on how to compost 1000# of elephant poop generated per day. With an available destination and hauler in-place, the significant challenge was creating in-zoo transport logistics with no overtime. Mark secured 100% buy-in from the staff and it took six months to figure out a working system. Result: smaller animal areas asked to include their "poop" in the collection system.

With 1.4 million guests per year, the Zoo sees itself as a role model for public education on the importance of zero waste and sustainable practices.  The Zoo is on a relentless pursuit of improvement using common sense with simple, frugal solutions. A Zoo mantra:  Let's do it better!

Kelly, Scott, Tom & Gary Liss (USZWBC)

After a relaxed lunch, the vigorous program resumed with the How to get to Zero Waste panel: Tom Wright - Whole Foods sustainability consultant, Scott Burns - Procter & Gamble Global Asset Recovery Purchases associate director, and Kelly Harris - MillerCoors sustainability development coordinator. Tom lead off the session with an overview of Whole Food's impressive sustainability commitment and achievements.

To start his presentation, Scott showed an image-only short video to emphasize the magnitude of P&G's global impact on our daily lives. In 2007 Scott was selected to develop an internal program to identify where valuable products and material were treated as trash.  As a result of his call to action, Scott created GARP. In six years, GARP grew to 35 employees and is responsible for a collective $1 billion in cost-savings, often by donating important products to third world countries. As of this post, 46 plants around the globe achieved zero waste status.

Scott telling P&G imp message

Scott tells an amazing story of how 750,000 infant diapers (30 tracker trailer loads) were collected by charity within hours before landfill destination. Months later Scott was in Haiti on a medical mission where he first-hand witnessed the diapers serving a vital community need. Hearing Scott tell the story puts into perspective the importance of redirecting unused, unsalable products, rather than taking the easier landfill route.

As an encore presenter from the 2012 USZWBC conference, Kelly gave an impressive update on MillerCoor's brewery in Golden, CO - the largest brewery in the world. In addition to zero waste achievement, the brewery reduced energy consumption 29.3% year-to-date in 2013. The brewery, which uses 4 million gallons of water per day, reduced water consumption by 8.5% or 340,000 gallons per day.

Kelly spoke on how sustainability programs requires a sales approach to associates and a culture shift within the organization. Employing the KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid - philosophy, Kelly achieved 100% recycling program improvement by color coding the entire brewery. One of Kelly's mottoes is: Stop - Is it Recyclable? Truth is almost everything is reusable or recyclable; if not, it is replaceable.

Amy, Marty, Terry, Sue & Gary

The day's program ended with the Markets and Innovations panel moderated by USZWBC president Gary Liss - Gary Liss & Associates: Sue Beets - SBM Management corporate sustainability manager, Terry McDonald - St. Vincent de Paul executive director, Amy Moreland - Heritage Interactive Services director of international business & supplier relations, and Marty Metro - Used Cardboard Boxes.

Leading the panel with her Value of Materials presentation, Sue noted SBM Management has 19 years of sustainability management experience and in 2012 managed 38 major recycling locations. In 2012 SBM's award-winning recycling program diverted 117 million tons of material from landfills and generated $11.9 million of documented client savings - IMPRESSIVE!

Sue @ podium
photo courtesy of Scott Lutocka

After her overview of the commodities market and process steps, Sue emphasized the importance of assessing the "whole picture": labor, equipment & hauling charges and material value. Often janitorial costs are the least expensive component. In closing, Sue spoke of the important role solid waste and recycling monthly tracking progress plays in successful programs, a perfect segue for Amy's Tracking Your Success & Difficult Waste Streams presentation.  

With the recent IS2 Data Management System launch, companies may now benefit from the incredible tracking system previously only available to Interactive clients. Documenting progress and success is integral to defining program status and taking it to next levels. As a by-product and logistics management company, Interactive works closely with clients, at times with on-site staff, to create cost-saving systems where the corporate bottom line and the environment benefit.

Terry @ podium

Next Terry gave an impressive presentation, Spinning gold from waste, on the valuable role the thrift industry plays in material recovery. Beyond the social impact, St Vincent de Paul's reuse, recycling and upcycling efforts contribute to a community's ability to divert valuable material from the landfill.  Finishing out the panel, Marty gave compelling testament in his Reuse a multimillion business on the tremendous economic cost of limited product reuse, even if it goes to recycling.

The fast-paced program ended with a lovely reception where conference attendees recapped the day in a relaxed, social setting overlooking Cincinnati's fountain square.

Scott Lutocka, Chris Bradlee & Jim Larson
@ reception

Elemental Impact was well represented at the conference with numerous Ei Partners serving on various panels throughout the two-day conference.  On the first day, HIS presented while BASF, HMSHost, CleanRiver and Piazza Produce were scheduled on the second day. Ei founder Holly Elmore orchestrated and moderated the Zero Waste is a Team Sport panel.  

In addition to "Know Your Trash" several other common themes intertwined the presentations.  After top management buy-in, securing associate engagement supported by consistent, repetitive training was emphasized. Rewarding employees for program participation along with system improvement suggestions was key. On the other hand, peer pressure is an excellent motivator for the late adopters and nay sayers - LOVE the "Wall of Shame!"  From a basic perspective, simplicity is best when developing program parameters and logistics.

With a variety of industries along with non-profits showcasing their success, it was empowering to understand common ingredients underlie zero waste  programs that improve the bottom line.

For a pictorial recap of the USZWBC second annual conference, see the Ei FB album, 05-08-13 USZWBC Second Annual Conference.

The conference second day is featured in the ZWA Blog post, Zero Waste Success Requires WE Consciousness, along with the Ei FB album, 05-09-13 USZWBC Conference - Food Waste Focus, for the pictorial recap.

Kudos to the USZWBC for hosting a second stellar conference!

Zero WATER Waste: more than a goal, a necessity

Water footprints matter too ..
from Living Lightly

Zero Water Waste - why is it not a mantra?  Water conservation gets heavy duty play yet calling attention to specific waste is an added dimension for zero waste advocates.  As in landfill-destined material, the many proverbial low-hanging fruit were addressed by astute business leaders in recent years.

Companies achieved water usage reduction by fixing leaky faucets and installing low-flush toilets, waterless urinals and no-touch sink faucets. Larger facilities experienced impressive savings, often with quick return-on-investment for the capital investment.  

self-service water station @ a
GA Tech Conference Center event

In the foodservice industry, where high water consumption is inherent in operations, offering customers water upon request, utilizing self-service water stations at events & conferences and thawing frozen food in refrigeration units - versus under cold running water - were easy, effective water-saving practices.  New commercial dishwashers are available with reduced water usage and low-flow pre-rinse spray valves are common in kitchens. It seemed most of the "easy" water-saving tasks were complete.

Yet, the proverbial tree matured with a new batch of water-saving ripe fruit!  Tying water-savings to kitchen grease generation is a frontier with a simple solution.

YUM - yet generates kitchen grease

For foodservice operations, building codes and | or health permits require hood systems over stoves, fryers and other kitchen equipment. Fans pull the grease generated during cooking through baffle filters and into a duct system destined for the roof. Fire codes require regular kitchen hood system cleaning, with many operations cleaning the grease build-up on a monthly basis. On average each hood cleaning uses 350 gallons of water, which is discharged to the local sewer system filled with grease and toxic cleaning solutions.

Ei Partner Ellis Fibre designed a patented lambs wool filter that is placed in front of the hood baffle filters. Note the baffle filter purpose is to "baffle" flames to prevent entrance into the duct system and contain a grease fire within the kitchen. The Ellis Fibre filters collect 90 - 95% of the grease BEFORE it enters the ducts. Thus, grease build-up is prevented throughout the hood system and on the roof. In addition to a fire hazard, rooftop grease build-up may cause structure damage resulting in costly repairs for the building owner.

recently installed Grease Lock system
with the EF filters

Nightly baffle filter washing, a labor and water intensive endeavor, is a common final kitchen closing task. With the EF filters, baffle filters are generally washed on a weekly basis; thus an 86% labor & water reduction for the task. With limited grease flowing into the ducts the roof remains in good repair around the exhaust area.

The BIG savings are in the reduced monthly hood cleanings to once or twice per year. Periodic inspections are required to determine if a hood cleaning is required pursuant the fire code. At 350 gallons per cleaning, one restaurant will on average save 3500 gallons water and related cleaning toxins per year. Note larger facilities - hotels, conference centers, event venues - have numerous kitchens with hood systems. Potential water & toxin savings are tremendous.

In addition to water, toxin & labor savings, the reduced hood cleaning keeps heavy industrial trucks off the road decreasing the area's carbon footprint.

grease build-up in the kitchen
hood system ducts

Elemental Impact is spearheading an Ellis Fibre | Grease Lock (EF filters are sold through Grease Lock distributors) Pilot to quantify the water, toxin and labor savings in an independent engineer's report. Renown engineer Jayendra Parikh of Compliance Solutions International will issue the paper that quantifies the environmental and business impact of the Grease Lock filter system. Along with a fried chicken quick service restaurant and a casual dining concept, HMSHost is participating in the pilot with one of their Atlanta Airport locations. The Ei FB album, 02-20-13 Grease Lock Pilot Tour, is a pictorial recap of the tour initiating the pilot.

Once published, a future ZWA Blog post will announce the report with anticipated impressive results.

Across industry boundaries, it is time to focus on high water consumption practices and determine how to reduce usage. Simple habit shifts may be the reduction answer for some while other areas may require advanced technology solutions.  Ei is studying a new system that significantly lowers cooling tower water consumption in large facilities. A tour is scheduled later this month at an installed system in Tampa, Florida. 

Together with Ei Partner EcoLogic Solutions, Ei is exploring an evolution in cleaning practices that addresses water usage & toxicity. The IMPACT Blog post, NYC Ei Partner Tours, gives an overview of ELS operations while the post, ELS Receives EPA Award, honors ELS for their impressive U.S. EPA award.

compliments of  KitchAnn Style

The water footprint is as or even more important than the carbon footprint. Global warming seems to garner the headlines using the carbon footprint as the accepted sustainability measurement tool. The fact water is immediately essential to sustaining life seems ignored.  For human survival:  first, a human must breath; second, a human stay hydrated and third, a human must consume nutritious food. Water is at the foundation of #2 & #3. 

For Ei soil and water health is at the foundation of our important work. While stewards of the Zero Waste Zones, Ei was instrumental in bringing the collection of commercial food waste for compost to national prominence.  With the National Restaurant Association ZWZ purchase last fall (see the ZWA Blgo post, Ei: An Established Program Creator, for details), Ei's focus is on compost's imperative role in rejuvenating soil systems.  Note Ei founder Holly Elmore is the self-appointed spokesperson for Compost, The Quiet Hero via numerous national speaking engagements.

Water and soil are natural soul mates and must be addressed in unison. Stay tuned as Ei uses our powerful zero waste foundation to impact water waste and toxicity  The fun is escalating!!!.

Food Waste Focus @ Zero Waste Conference

On May 8 & 9 the national zero waste community converges upon Cincinnati, Ohio for the second annual U.S. Zero Waste Business Council Conference. In 2012 the stellar inaugural conference was held in Costa Mesa, CA with an enthusiastic crowd from across North America, including attendees from Hawaii, Toronto and each quadrant of the continent. 


For an overview of the 2012 USZWBC Conference, visit the ZWA Blog post, U.S. Zero Waste Business Council hosts first-rate conference. Stephanie Barger - USZWBC executive director - and the USZWBC Board are staged for an excellent encore performance, building off the solid foundation from the first conference.

Ei Ptrs @ 2012 USZWBC Conference

With a myriad of  topics addressed, the conference is an excellent educational experience for industry professionals seasoned in zero waste practices and those taking the initial steps.Topics range from innovations & markets, supply chain management, program promotion, food waste, property | facility management along with "how to achieve zero waste" success stories. A strong industry cross section is interwoven within panelists and keynote speakers. The conference program gives the details.

Food waste takes center stage on the second day with Lori Scozzafava,  U.S. Composting Council executive director, opening the plenary session with his State of Commercial Food Scrap Policies and Process in the United States presentation. Following Lori, the Greater Cincinnati Green Council.hosts the plenary panel The Composting Project and Tool Kit.

Scott show Amy pkging
during Piazza tour

For the mid morning break out sessions, Elemental Impact founder Holly Elmore moderates a powerful panel discussion, Zero Waste is a Team Sport. comprised of Ei Partners. The ZWA Blog post, Zero Waste is a Team Sport, inspired the panel name and topic.

Scott Lutocka, Plazza Produce facilities manager, leads the discussion with a presentation on the supply chain's critical role in zero waste success. Speaking with authority, Scott brought Piazza Produce to zero waste though ingenuity, determination and working with Piazza's suppliers. On the other hand, Scott understands Piazza's produce packaging integrity directly impacts their customers' ability to achieve zero waste. The ZWA Blog post, Supply Chain Critical to Zero Waste Success, gives a foundation of the supply chain's role in zero waste programs.

Amy Moreland & Chris Bradlee
in Newark for zero waste education

Second on the panel agenda is Chris Bradlee with BASF who presents on Sustainable Saturdays at Safeco Field where teamwork was integral to success. Working in partnership with the Seattle Mariners, BASF pulled together community, corporate and non-profits to develop a fun, educational program. Last fall Chris presented on the Seattle Mariner's Sustainable Saturdays during the two-day City of Newark zero waste workshop and meetings. Chris' PPT presentation is available on the Ei Meetings & Events Page.and the ZWA Blog post, Ei Team Visits Newark for Zero Waste Education, is a Newark visit overview.

Rounding out the panel is Perry Kranias - HMSHost food & beverage manager at the Tampa International Airport - who presents on food donation programs. HMSHost's amazing food donation commitment is featured in the ZWA Blog post, Reduce First, Donate Second and Compost Third. Perry's unwavering community commitment along HMSHost's partnership with the The Food Donation Connection built an impressive donation program that makes a tremendous difference in Tampa and beyond.  

Perry w/ food donation - YUM!

After the Zero Waste is a Team Sport panel, the conference convenes for lunch where Jim Larson with The Food Donation Connection is the keynote speaker.- impeccable timing! The Food Donation Connection model focuses on the tax benefits derived from food donation to organizations meeting the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. It is important to ground sustainable practices as good business practices.

Ei is well represented at the conference. In addition to the Zero Waste is a Team Sport panel,  Ei Partners Bruce Buchan of CleanRiver Recycling Solutions and Amy Moreland of Heritage Interactive Services present on panels.

Conference registration remains open yet space is filling quickly.  What an opportunity to learn from the pros on the important role zero waste practices play in sustainable business models!

SFCI Atlanta Airport Pilot: ACTION Resumes!

In a holding pattern since last summer, the Sustainable Food Court Initiative Atlanta Airport Pilot returns to ACTION mode. When the SFCI pilot launched in June, 2011, the SFCI Team moved into immediate, powerful action. See the ZWZ Blog post, Atlanta Airport - First SFCI Pilot!, for details on the pilot announcement, including the national team members.

With impeccable launch timing, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was in the midst of the concessionaire RFP - request for proposal - for the entire airport. The City of Atlanta Office of Sustainability and Department of Aviation team, led by Michael Cheyne - Atlanta Airport director of asset management & sustainability - made the bold, courageous and successful move to include the following provision in the RFP: 

“Concessionaire shall use compostable serviceware along with consumer facing packaging and source separate all food service wastes for direct transport to off airport composting facilities.”

For additional information on the ground-breaking contract provision, visit the ZWA Blog post, Atlanta Airport Makes a Bold Sustainable Statement. 

The first SFCI Team task was preparation of the HJAIA Compostable Foodservice Ware Packet consisting of introduction, fact sheet and frequently asked question sections. In April, 2012 the info packet was issued as a downloadable document via the ZWA Blog post, Compostable Packaging Info Packet. Exemptions and exclusions were specifically addressed in the amended document announced in the ZWA Blog post, Exemptions | Exclusions Added to the Airport Info Packet.

Next on the agenda was development of a Material Usage Form to track contract provision compliance. With form elements complete, SFCI Team member Brenda Platt with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance is working with the City of Atlanta IT department on an on-line, paperless document for concessionaire completion.

Other than the Materials Usage Form, the SFCI Atlanta Airport Team went into a holding pattern in June, 2012. Due to the phase-in nature of the new contract, Concourses A - E & T are hybrids of concessionaires operating under the prior and new contracts throughout 2013.

April, 2012 tour group
see Ei FB album for names

Concourse F - the International Concourse - opened in May, 2012 under the new contract with Ei Partner & SFCI Team Member HMSHost the concourse concessionaire. Prior to opening, the SFCI Team toured the under-construction facility.  See the ZWA Blog post, SFCI Team Tours New ATL Airport Int'l Concourse, supported by the Ei FB album. 04-12-12 SFCI Team Tour of ATL Airport.


With the Atlanta Airport late 2012 shift to Republic Services for their waste & recycling services, Michael Cheyne requested a tour of the Airport's recycling stream destination. Republic delivers the Airport recycling stream to the Pratt Recycling MRF (material recovery facility) in East Point. With schedules flowing, Elemental Impact Chair Scott Seydel joined and Myles Cohen, Pratt Recycling president, led the late March tour with Republic associates attending.

In addition Ei orchestrated a Wilbros Organic Recovery & Biofuels facility visit for Michael. As of this post writing, Wilbros is the only composting site in GA permitted to accept food waste that is accepting food waste. For details on the tours, see the ZWA Blog post, "Seeing is Believing" - the magic of tours. The Ei FB albums, 03-25-13 Pratt MRF Tour and 03-29-13 Wilbros Organic Recovery & Biofuels Tour, include tour pictorial recaps.

SFCI Team during Int' l Concourse Tour
see Ei FB album for names

With the International Concourse nearing its one-year anniversary, the SFCI Team reunited on April 17 for a facility tour. Fact finding in nature, the tour included the concourse loading dock area along with food court front & back-of-the-house operations. Thank you to Kyle Mastin, Atlanta Airport concessionaire manager, for handling the security escort and loading dock tour and Tim Slaney, HMSHost senior director, for the food court operations tour.

For a tour pictorial recap, see the Ei FB album, 04-17-13 SFCI Team Tour - ATL Airport Int'l Concourse.

In early May, the SFCI Atlanta Airport Team will tour the Pratt MRF followed by a zero waste strategy session dedicated to action. It is thrilling to move back in action mode - stay tuned!

"Seeing is Believing" - the magic of tours

At the foundation of Elemental Impact's tagline Sustainability in ACTION is integrity.  Ei Partners are committed to working as a team to develop flexible programs and practices that evolve along with shifts in technology, circumstances and economic parameters. Education is essential to weave integrity within program|practice development.

Jim Lanier w/ Earth Farms
educating Ei Ptrs

Tours are excellent vehicles to learn first-hand about industry practices and fellow partner business expertise. Ei hosts industry and partner tours designed for experiential education, strategic planning and bonding among the Ei Team. Tour participation is open to Ei Partners, Strategic Allies and Advisory Council Members.

March was full of amazing tours beginning with the powerful Charlotte Ei Partner Tours. The IMPACT Blog  post, Charlotte Ei Partner Tours, is an overview of the two days hosted by Ei Partners HMSHost and Simon Property Group. The ZWA Blog post, Bring the Possible out of Impossible, dives deeper into the tours & presentations with a focus on food waste collection, wasted food donation and plastic film recycling.

As the month closed Ei embarked on a series of metro-Atlanta educational tours focused on existing operations and exploring innovative technology.  

Myles & Scott during tour

With the Sustainable Food Court Initiative Atlanta Airport pilot shift to Republic Services for their waste & recycling services, Michael Cheyne - Atlanta Airport director, asset management & sustainability - requested a tour of the airport's recycling stream destination. Republic delivers the airport recycling stream to the PrattRecycling MRF (material recovery facility) in East Point.

With schedules flowing, Ei Chair Scott Seydel and Myles Cohen - Pratt Recycling president- made the tour a priority in their hectic calendars.The tour started with a presentation of Pratt Industries & Pratt Recycling - impressive! Then Myles took the group, including Republic Services associates in-charge of the airport contract, on a MRF tour.

Simplicity is the theme at the Pratt MRF, which results in cost-effective, clean material bales. Mixed paper & OCC (old corrugated cardboard) are transferred to the Pratt mill in Conyers as feedstock for their 100% recycled content cardboard production. Other content is sold in the commodity market for recycling.

Contaminated material not fit for recycling is used in the Pratt Mill's gasification plant, none is landfill destined. The Ei FB album, 03-25-13 Pratt MRF Tour, is a pictorial recap of the tour.

compost screening @ Wilbros

Later in the week Michael, Ei founder Holly Elmore and Melissa Selem traveled to Toccoa, 90 miles north of Atlanta, to visit Wilbros Organic Recovery & Biofuels facility. As of this post writing, Wilbros is the only composting site in GA permitted to accept food waste that is accepting food waste. Only one hauler, Southern Green Industries - an Ei Supporter - is collecting Atlanta commercial food waste for transport to Wilbros.

Wiblros founder Joe Wilbanks gave an excellent facility tour including their on-site water treatment system, biofuel production and composting site. Despite local odor complaints, the site had the sweet smell of compost, not offensive to anyone who loves soil. For a tour pictorial recap, see the Ei FB album, 03-29-13 Wilbros Organic Recovery & Biofuels Tour.

In mid 2012 SFCI Atlanta Airport Pilot went into a holding pattern while the new airport concessions contract went into effect. Here is a quick summary of the contract status: 

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport concessionaire contract requires food vendors to use compostable serviceware along with consumer facing packaging for single-use items.  Due to the phase-in nature of the contract, the entire Airport will be operational under the new contract in the first quarter 2014.  The Airport’s on-site food waste composting system is scheduled to accept material by the end of 2014.  Although encouraged to meet the provision upon opening, concessionaires operate within a grace period until December 31, 2014, upon which the compostable packaging provision will be enforced.

SFCI Team tours Int'l Concourse
near end of construction

For details on the contract provision along with the SFCI Team supporting role, see the ZWA Blog post, Atlanta Airport Makes Bold Statement, for details on the contract provision. 

 In mid-April, the SFCI Team reconvenes at the International Concourse for a tour & meeting. With a new waste & recycling hauler, fresh energy is interjected into the Team. Ei Partner HMSHost operates the International Concourse foodservice and is a true team player.Action is around the corner!

Rounding out the March tours Scott and Holly were treated to a tour of the recently opened GenAgain plant located in Lithia Springs. Using innovative technology, GenAgain accepts "dirty plastic" generally landfilled or sent overseas.and returns it to petroleum. Plastic contaminated with oil, such as motor oil containers, are perfect for GenAgain. Landfill destined rigid plastics from toys, lawn furniture etc. are accepted once non-plastic items (batteries for example) are removed and the plastic is chipped to a specified size.

Scott & GenAgain managing
partner Robin Curtis at tour end

Currently, three other U.S. plants are operating with the same technology and GenAgain plans to build 15 more plants in the Southeast over the next five years. Once opening glitches are discovered, Ei intends  to schedule a tour with Atlanta zero waste leaders to maximize the recycling opportunities offered by GenAgain.

"Seeing is Believing" is inherent within the importance of tours.  With the plethora of educational tools available - webinars, videos, photo albums - there is something magical about the physical presence. Witnessing the passion of facility owners & managers as they educate on their operations is beyond inspiring. Synergies abound and potentials often move into action.  Stay tuned for future Ei Tours and action points from the March tour marathon.

Bring the Possible out of Impossible

A common phrase in Elemental Impact founder Holly Elmore's speaking engagements summarizes the overall driving force in Ei initiatives:

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done. Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

While nurturing the Zero Waste Zones from their 2009 launch until the September, 2012 National Restaurant Association purchase, the Ei Team worked closely with industry pioneers to create zero practices grounded in sound business principles and easy to implement.  Quotes, like the below from Dave Rossman, then general manager at the Doubletree Atlanta-Buckhead, were common by late 2009:

"By joining the Zero Waste Zones we were given an easy and cost-saving solution for food waste composting.  We have fewer and lighter compactor pulls since there is no smell from decomposing food in the compactor.  The process was easy and our employees feel good about helping the environment."

With the ZWZ success, the possible was brought out of what seemed impossible in 2008. It was not easy getting to consistent ZWZ Participant quotes on how easy it was to implement food waste collection practices in commercial kitchens. Ei specializes in creating pathways within frontiers by working closely with pioneers willing to make the effort so others may easily follow.

As documented in the ZWA Blog post, Ei: An Established Program Creator, the NRA ZWZ acquisition moved the Sustainable Food Court Initiative center stage for Ei's zero waste focus. True to the Ei tagline: Sustainability in ACTION, the SFCI is in full action mode. In early March, the SFCI Shopping Mall Pilot - Concord Mills in Charlotte, NC - hosted the third Ei Partner Tours. For an overview of the tours, see The IMPACT Blog post, Charlotte Ei Partner Tours.and the Ei FB album, 03-04-13 Ei Ptr Tours - Day 1, for a pictorial recap.

Concord Mills - a Simon Property Group mall with the food court operated by HMSHost - was a natural pilot choice. With Ei Partner HMSHost at the backbone of the Atlanta Airport SFCI Airport Pilot, the foodservice tenant buy-in challenge was not applicable. The ZWA Blog post, ACTION: Theme for the SFCI Shopping Mall Pilot, is an overview of how the Concord Mills Team embarked upon food waste collection for composting, wasted food donation and plastic film recycling pilots.

The Ei Partner Tours were an excellent opportunity to showcase how the WE Conciousness results in programs where all benefit. The ZWA Blog post, Zero Waste is a Team Sport, introduces the WE Consciousness as integral to zero waste success.

The Charlotte "Can Do" Team
Ray, Brian & Larry Jenkns

For an overview of Ray Soporowski's - CM SPG general manager- and Brian Shetron's - CM HMSHost food & beverage director, "can do" attitude that results in action, see the ZWA Blog post, Concord Mills: The Power of "WE" in Action.

Working with the Concord Mills team. Susan Stanton with Tomra | Orwak was instrumental in launching the plastic film recycling pilot. Beyond providing the baling equipment, Susan's industry expertise was invaluable, especially during the chaotic energy present in the creation process.To make it easy for tenants, Ray implemented a porter service for weekly plastic film collection. Tenants are enthusiastic to participate and doing their best to shift internal practices so a clean stream is generated. From the August program launch through the end of February, 18,000 pounds of clean, clear plastic film was baled and sold for recycling at Concord Mills

Jim, Brian & Ray by the new
food waste container

For food waste collection, Jim Lanier of Earth Farms worked closely with Ray and Brian to develop a system that worked well for all. With Earth Farms located 45 minutes from Concord Mills, Jim developed a weekly collection system that kept odors under control. When the original 95 gallon totes proved less than ideal, Jim replaced totes with a 2.3 yard container. Working as a team, Ray's staff moves the container from the interior hallway site to the loading area for Earth Farm's collection. Note: a layer of spent coffee grinds on top of the food waste is an excellent odor control option.

Concord Mills is an exception to most mall designs with their "race track" internal hall system. The halls are wide (equipment placement is relatively easy without infringing on fire codes) and built for vehicle traffic. The mall has forklifts making it practical to move the food waste container to the loading area.  

Brian explains BOH practices to
Laurette & Susan during tours

On the DAY 2 of the Charlotte Ei Partner Tours the entourage traveled to Stanley, NC for an excellent tour of Earth Farms' composting facility.The Ei FB album, 03-05-13 Charlotte Ei Ptr Tours - Day 2, includes a pictorial recap of the Earth Farms tour.


HMSHost works closely with The Food Donation Connection on wasted food donation programs at their airport, turnpike service center and mall operations. At airports the grab 'n go items were the first step to creating a national donation template.The ZWA Blog post, Reduce First, Donate Second, Compost Third, gives an overview of the Tampa Airport donation program.


Brian took the next big step in wasted food donation: prepared, unserved food from Quick Service Restaurants. In accordance with Popeye's quality control chicken must be sold within 20 minutes of frying. Standards like Popeye's generate a significant amount of wasted food that is perfect for donation.

Rev White & Brian

Working with the Food Donation Connection, Brian identified the wasted food generated in the food court operations that meets the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. Next  the local Second Harvest office identified a shelter set-up for food requiring further processing before serving. Reverend White of Urban Street Ministries was a perfect match and collects 300 - 400 pounds of food weekly to feed those living in the streets. 

It is an honor to witness the team work and heartfelt caring required to create and launch the Concord Mills wasted food donation program. Future blog posts will dive deeper into the program along with advice on how to create similar programs where donatable, wasted food goes to composting or the landfill.

As of the tours, 38 tons of food waste was diverted from landfills to composting and 6800 pounds of consumable food was distributed to hungry folks at Concord Mills. By working with Simon & HMSHost, the impact of templates developed at Concord Mills has potential to impact nearly 400 Simon malls and around 80 plus North American airports with HMSHost foodservice operations.

Concord Mills is the perfect pilot: 1> mall & food court managers who operate within the WE Consciousness 2> food court is operated by one tenant, Ei Partner HMSHost 3> mall back-of-the-house design accommodates equipment placement and material transport. With plastic film recycling, food waste collection for composting and wasted food donation programs in-place, it is time to explore zero waste practices in malls with more typical scenarios.

Clean plastic film ready for baling
@ Concord Mills

On DAY 2 the partners started the busy day with a tour of SouthPark Mall, a high-end Simon mall in Charlotte. Plastic film recycling is underway at SouthPark with their baler arriving days earlier. Ray, Brian and Jim joined the Ei Partners to educate Randy Thomas - Southpark general manager- and operations manager Ron Rentschler on the support the Ei Team provides while implementing new practices. First action steps are for SouthPark to explore back-of-the-house food waste collection with staged-in implementation. 

SouthPark has three strong national restaurant tenants - The Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano's Little Italy and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks  - who contract for their own waste & recycling services. Ei plans to work on a talking points template for SouthPark to educate the restaurant management that food waste collection for composting makes good business sense. Besides the zero waste impact, the food waste volume from these restaurants creates route density to keep Earth Farm's costs in-line.

Bruce & Ray with
SFCI FOH recycling center

For Concord Mills, the next frontier is front-of-the-house food waste collection in the food court. Challenges abound, making the scenario perfect for the SFCI Team to lend valuable industry expertise. CleanRiver Recycling Solutions Tom Lembo chairs the FOH Recycling Center SFCI committee and is excited to move into action mode. Bruce Buchan - CleanRiver founder & CEO - attended the tours as a featured partner and gave an excellent presentation on DAY 1. The first rendition of the SFCI recycling center is in-place and ready for its next evolution - thank you CleanRiver for your generosity with both expertise and equipment.

Transport and consumer-facing packaging is foundational  to moving the zero waste needle closer to no waste. In the ZWA Blog post, Supply Chain Critical to Zero Waste Success, transport packaging is addressed along with approaching suppliers as partners.  Examples are given where suppliers shifted from "landfill packaging" to reuseable | recyclable options where all win, including the supplier's bottom line.

Jim showing Lynn the final
product @ composting site

Representing single-use consumer foodservice packaging, Ei Advisory Council member Lynn Dyer - Foodservice Packaging Institute president, joined the Ei Partner Tours. FPI is active in industry sustainable options with their Paper Recovery Alliance and Plastics Recovery Group. On her quest to learn industry best practices and potentials, the Earth Farms' tour was a top priority in Lynn's busy schedule. It was Lynn's first visit to a food waste composting site, the final destination for many single-use compostable consumer foodservice packaging. The entire tour group learned from Lynn's inquisitive conversation and questions. 

With impeccable timing, Ei founder Holly Elmore served on a SWANA Road to Zero Waste conference panel with Laurette Hall - Mecklenburg County director of sustainability - the week prior to the Charlotte Ei Partner Tours. For an overview of the conference session, see the ZWA Blog post, Zero Waste, Southern Style. Laurette accepted Holly's invitation and joined the Ei Partners for the DAY 1 tours & presentations at Concord Mills.

Laurette Hall with Linda Dunn
of HMSHost

Jake Wilson - Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful executive director & works with Laurette - is instrumental to Ei's Charlotte presence. Holly connected with Jake long before the first Charlotte adventure and relies on Jake as a local anchor. For the tours, Jake made the majority a priority in his hectic schedule. Local government support is critical to success and Ei is most appreciative of the strong Mecklenburg County bond.

The SFCI Team is staged for action bringing the possible out of what is perceived as impossible.  Exciting times!!!