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

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