Toward Zero Waste: Case Studies

Below are case studies of twelve Whatcom County businesses and their efforts to go Toward Zero Waste.

Aiki Homes, Bellingham Farmers Market, Bellingham Roller Betties, Bison Bookbinding, Boundary Bay Brewery, Chuckanut Brewery, DIGS, Just Enough Accounting, Living Laboratories, Louws Truss, Samson Rope, Zervas

BELLINGHAM FARMERS MARKET

80% recycling rate
10,000 a month experiencing Towards Zero Waste

The Bellingham Farmers Market has become one of the largest and most successful markets in Washington state. The Market supports local sustainable agriculture by connecting the public with area farmers, artisans, and other producers in an economically viable marketplace. The Market is more than just a place to buy fresh
produce and hand crafted products - it’s also a vibrant gathering place for the entire community. With growth, the Market has tried to keep the waste stream in check.When challenged by the Towards Zero Waste program, the Market gladly took on the problem and started providing recycling stations for customers at the Market.
For over 4 years, the Market has been requiring vendors to use compostable servingware to make it easier for customers to participate in Towards Zero Waste practices.

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2010

• Recycling volunteers to help promote recycling at the Market
• Recycling volunteers to help provide recycling education to all Market attendees
• Removed garbage cans from Market & replaced with recycle stations
• Required all Farmers Market food vendors to use compostable servingware
• Educated vendors on how to recycle all their waste
• Educated vendors on sources for bio-bags and other recyclable items they can use in their business

LIVING LABORATORIES

90% jobsite recycling rate
3,209lbs salvaged from existing building onsite

Living Laboratories is an employee-owned, towards zero waste company that is dedicated to the concept of sustainability in every aspect of life: from the design of the company to the design of its projects, and from the lives of its employees to the lives of the owners of the homes it builds. Living Laboratories is founded
on the concept that large endeavors, such as construction or development, will serve all humans best if they are designed, built and used in the most sustainable manner possible.Living Lab ONE was constructed using a detailed level of waste recycling methods.Throughout final construction, the home achieved 90.7%
landfill avoidance.

TZW Actions

Jobsite Recycling Totals - 2010

• Plastic & Glass (bottles, plumbing, buckets) = .6 cubic yards
• Metal (wire, cans, nails, plumbing, hardware) = .2 cubic yards
• Film Plastic (packaging, Tyvek wrap, tarps) = .4 cubic yards
• Wood (scraps, ends, framing shorts) = 1.6 cubic yards
• Concrete & Brick (old blocks from existing structure) = 1.4 cubic yards Cardboard = 3.0 cubic yards
• Paper (mixed paper, paperboard, paint paper) = 1.6 cubic yards
• Drywall = 2.4 cubic yards
• Compost (Foodscraps, yardwaste, small wood chips, sawdust, biodegradable packaging, fabric) = 2.0 cubic yards

DIGS

Gretchen Bjork and Ben Knudsen, owners of two very eco-conscious stores in Bellingham, WA, are setting the bar high for retail businesses. Both of their stores, Left Right Left (which offers fun, fashionable footwear and accessories for men and women), and Digs (a modern home and lifestyle store), sell merchandise from independent artists/designers and strive to offer a selection of environmentally friendly and recycled products. They reuse Styrofoam peanuts for shipping web orders and have helped convince one vendor to stop using Styrofoam to package furniture.

They also use the backside of all junk and scrap paper to print in-store forms and copies, use recycled kraft paper shopping bags, and recycle all plastic bags used to ship and package merchandise.

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2010

• Reuse Styrofoam peanuts
  
• Convinced one of their suppliers to stop using Styrofoam
• Continued commitment to urge suppliers to move away from Styrofoam and use biodegradable peanuts instead
• Selection of recycled products sold in store
• Reuse of scrap paper
• Recycled Kraft paper for shopping bags
• Recycle all plastic film used in shipping
• Composts paper towel waste at DIGS and use real hand towels at Left Right Left

JUST ENOUGH ACCOUNTING & ADMIN SERVICES

95% office recycling rate
100% ink jet recycling

Kelly Pederson, owner/operator of Just Enough Accounting and Administrative Management Services is a small home office business providing a variety of accounting and consulting services to other local small businesses. Kelly has been a supporter of the Toward Zero Waste movement for many years in her own business and has helped other Whatcom County businesses to see how easy it can be to recycle at their businesses, too. She has found many creative outlets for those hard to recycle office items that when recycled appropriately can actually benefit others in our community. Just Enough believes in small businesses and wants to help them thrive.

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2010

• Furnished office with used or converted furniture.
• Purchased a combined recycle/ garbage bin set that hook together
• Use paper shredding as nest box material for chickens or for compost
• Save and trim misprints and printer testpages for scrap paper
• Purchase recycled paper; print double sided
• Collect office and clients’ empty ink jet and laser toner cartridges (plus cell phones) and donate to school PTA’s who redeem them for cash for school needs.

BOUNDARY BAY BREWERY & BISTRO

56,000 pounds of waste composted in one year
100 employees dedicated to zero waste practices
70% waste diversion from landfill

Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro opened in 1995 and has strived to provide hearty food and award-winning beer. As a 100+ employee business, they have made strides towards water and energy efficiency and are a leading participant of the Towards Zero Waste campaign. Spent grains from the brewing process go to local farms for livestock and chicken feed and the oil from their Beer Garden fryer is converted to biodiesel by a local vendor. Over 70% of Boundary Bay’s waste has been diverted from the landfill.

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2009

• Oil from fryer is reused and converted to biodiesel
• Use compostable straws and to-go containers, and 100% compostable service ware in the beer garden
• Spent grain from brewing is sent to a neighboring flock of chickens and local dairy farms to feed livestock
• Recycled cardboard, bottles, cans and plastic wrap used for keg packaging
• 100% of kegs purchased are recycled
• Excess beer in brewing lines is used by a local bakery for beer bread
• Dining tables milled from salvaged flooring
• Employees encouraged to bring reusable bottles for water - no plastic water bottles on or off-site

SAMSON

$20,000 in reduced waste costs per year
150 employees dedicated to toward zero waste practices
50% waste reduction in first TWO months

For well over 100 years, Samson has been recognized as a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of high-performance ropes. Samson had a vision to expand their recycling in their manufacturing business of 150 employees. Samson’s initial goal was to reduce the amount of solid waste by 50% in the first year of the program. This goal was achieved in the first two months! Their next step will be to implement FoodPlus!, further their lean manufacturing processes, participate in the Community Energy Challenge and continue their Toward Zero Waste journey!

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2010

• One year recycling goal met in 2 months
• Removed equivalent weight of 12.5 cars out of the landfill in first 2 months
• Support from Management and Kaizen Governing Committee and employees
• Created a recycling committee & developing an official recycling policy
• Created metrics to monitor recycling progress
• Recycle ALL metal, cardboard, electronics, batteries, toner catridges, clean poly & nylon fibers, stretch film, wood, and all bottles and cans
• Promotes the use of reusable cups and implemented paper reduction strategies

ZERVAS GROUP ARCHITECTS

1,300+ lbs of paper recycled every year
90% waste diversion from landfill

As design leaders in a rapidly growing region, Zervas Group Architects advocates urban connection where infrastructure exists, planning that preserves our natural resources and design that adds to the community experience as the best way to achieve responsible and inspiring growth. Zervas is building a legacy of beautiful, timeless architecture, and hold their firm to the highest standards for sustainable design as well as sustainable business practices. Through the challenge to move towards zero waste, they have made a few simple changes that have yielded an impressive 90% waste reduction. TZW steps taken include; 100% of paper waste recycled, clear and comprehensible recycling labels and bins set up for workers and clients to follow, and paper hand towels and food leftovers are composted.

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2009

• Clearly marked recycling areas for newspaper, e-waste and bottles, cans or plastic items
• Each desk has a cardboard “recycle” box Paper towels and food waste are composted
• 100% of ink cartridges recycled
• 100% of proposal materials for new projects can be recycled
• Usable computers and peripherals are donated to charities, while “techno-trash” is recycled through approved programs
• 100% of plastic and bubble wrap is recycled once a month, or re-used for shipments going out of office

CHUCKANUT BREWERY & KITCHEN

95% waste reduction
160,000 gallons of water saved

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen is a brewery and restaurant offering consistent, unique, quality driven craft beers and beverages with creative, locally and globally influenced Fresh American cuisine. These early adopters of the Towards Zero Waste Challenge repurposed an existing equipment rental warehouse into a full scale brewery in the urban village of Old Town, Bellingham. During construction they reclaimed and recycled over 90% of the existing space. Today, they divert 95% of their restaurant waste – reducing all land-fill garbage to a single 5-gallon bucket per day.

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2008

• Reuse of an existing space
• Installed a T&T Recovery recycling bin during construction that collects metal &
  steel beams, fencing, wood, OSB and some plastic films
• 100% of spent grains from brewing process are composted
• 100% furniture reclaimed from existing restaurants and the REStore
• Waterless urinals minimize 40,000 gallons of water consumption per urinal per year
• Purchased used computerized components for brewing system
• Repurposed dairy tanks and retrofitted for brewing
• Reused refrigeration and cooking equipment from local restaurants
• Recycling and food compost divert 95% of waste from landfills

BELLINGHAM ROLLER BETTIES: “Waste Not, Want Not” Roller Derby

1,400 attendees
75% waste reduction

On April 12, 2008, the Bellingham Roller Betties (a local nonprofit organization based in Whatcom County) held a “Waste Not, Want Not” bout at the Sportsplex Arena. Event promotion included the Toward Zero Waste logo throughout. The bout was a success, and our overall waste was reduced by roughly 75%!

TZW Actions

“Waste Not Want Not” - April 12, 2008

• Online ticket purchases and will call vs. printed tickets
• Hand stamps for entry vs. plastic wristbands
• Food vendors used all compostable and recyclable materials
• Food waste and recycling toters rented from SSC and placed plentifully
  throughout the event
• Programs printed on recycled paper let attendees know they were in a Towards
  Zero Waste Zone
• Skaters brought reuseable water bottles vs. using multiple plastic bottles
• Created a new mascot: “Johnny Trash”, who spreads support of sustainability
  and recycling
• Online bout announcements linked to www.sconnect.org/zerowaste showing
  others how to join the campaign

LOUWS TRUSS, INC.

$30,000 net new profit
100 tons of waste diverted from a land fill
90% waste reduction

Louws Truss Inc. is a full service provider of roof trusses and premanufactured wall panels. Through the help of Sustainable Connections Construction Recycling resources and a waste audit by SSC, Louws Truss was able to eliminate a 30 yard dumpster that was being dumped 2-3 times a month. They have benefited financially by taking steps Towards Zero Waste; it costs less to recycle each month then to have waste sent to a landfill. With the sale of mill ends to be reclaimed as finger jointed studs, they have turned what was once recycled waste product into a revenue source!

TZW Actions

Construction Waste Recycling Efforts - 2008

• Installed a SSC construction recycling bin that collects OSB and CDX scrap,
  lumber with nails, metal banding and some plastic films (previously disposed of)
• Contacted the W.C. Recycling Hotline for support that led to Agri-Plastics, which
  recycles all lumber tarps free of charge (previously disposed of)
• Installed can/bottle, paper recycling and construction recycling bin at every work station (previously disposed of)
• Dimensional lumber over 1’ is palletized and shipped to a finger jointing plant in
  Bellingham (previously chipped)
• All clean lumber under 1’ is recycled into high grade wood chips
• Implemented recycling of metal plates, fasteners and scrap metal
• Contacted local non-profit for free cardboard collection

AIKI HOMES

70% jobsite recycling rate
47,316 lbs of waste recycled in one year

Aiki Homes is a green building firm dedicated to reducing their environmental impact and moving toward zero waste. In every facet of the company, waste reduction is a primary goal. In the office, garbage has been reduced to 7 gallons a month and only recycled paper made from post-consumer waste is used. Out in the field, subcontractors are contractually required to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Commingled construction recycling bins have replaced garbage bins and over 70% of jobsite waste is recycled or reused. Waste is also reduced through construction efficiency, eliminating waste, saving trees, and money.

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2009

• Comingled recycling bins replaced garbage bins on-site
• Jobsite recycling plans are posted on-site ensuring the proper sorting of all construction materials
• Prioritization of recyclable and recycled products and supplies
• Track recycling stream chain of custody to ensure downstream compliance
• Participate in workshops and events to educate other builders and community members on construction waste stream management
• Developed a waste management plan including waste management goals, waste prevention planning, communication and education, motivation plan and methods for evaluation
• Use advanced framing techniques to reduce waste

BISON BOOKBINDING & LETTERPRESS

95% waste reduction
5 tons of paper removed from landfill

Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress combines digital graphic design with old-world machinery to create printed materials with lasting value. The print shop utilizes equipment dating back to the 1880s, some of which requires no electricity to operate. Products and services include graphic design, digital and letterpress printing, limited edition book publishing, in-house handmade paper, heirloom book repair, workshops, and more. From inception, Bison has striven to be an eco-friendly business, and through TZW actions they’ve taken a step further by recycling 95% of their waste stream, recycling plastic wrap and bags, using soybased inks, low-impact pressroom solvents, and laundered rags.

TZW Actions

Business Waste Recycling Efforts - 2008

• 100% paper waste recycling, approximately 5 tons per year
• Offer 100% recycled and tree-free papers
• Reused printing and bindery equipment dates from 1880 to 1960
• 90-year old building was upgraded with doors and furniture from the ReStore
• Recycling and food compost divert 95% of waste stream from landfill
• All consumables from digital printer and platemaker are recycled