Green Restaurants - |Green Forum|

USGreenLiving · 05-22-2009, 03:46 PM

I was wondering if you have a green restaurant which is better? To use eco-friendly paper plates and metal or no utensils or standard lead free green plates, glasses & utensils for the diners?

I would think if one did the latter it would waste water and put more chemiclas into the environment (are there board of health approved "natural" dishwasher sanitizing agents?) and if paper plates were used might they be put into a compost pile if the food taht was on them was purely organic? If a vegetarian restaurant then might all uneaten scraps be composted?

Thanks,

Donald

Love4Earth · 05-22-2009, 06:58 PM

Is there a list somewhere of green restaraunts?

I would be interested to see if there were any around me.

executioner · 05-26-2009, 01:30 PM

Hi Donald:

I think that using paper plates is not much more of an improvement. Think about all those trees. Granted, they are recyclable, but the waste is just too voluminous.

What a green restaurant should go for is less waste and that means using plates, utensil and other things that can be washed and well, reused. I agree that the choice of material is important. Plastic plates and utensils might be a good idea, but of course, it's non-biodegradable. It would make sense to use stainless steel utensils and porcelain plates... not only do they help you save the environment, but they add a certain amount of class to your dining establishment!

As for the cleaning and washing... there are ways where you could save on water. In one restaurant in the area, I know that they've invested on a lot of plates and utensils. They have a scraps bin where they put all the food scraps, segregate the plates that are too oily and put them in a separate basin with hot or warm water with a little vinegar on it (makes sure the grease stays off) while all the rest go to a separate basin.

Using an eco-friendly detergent, they wash their plates from these basins and then rinse them off in cold water.

So you see, instead of a running tap to clean off the scraps, and the plates, they use basin water which they said saved them about 50% from their water bills. And oh, the food scraps? It gets composted, and it's used for their organic garden. While some of them are fed to their worm farms.

Paunil · 05-26-2009, 04:32 PM

That's a great system. I hope more restos go green!

naughtyluck · 07-26-2009, 01:10 AM

I think they should require restaurants to use the "Green Bin". The restaurants around me have bins for card board, compostables and trash.

hugolong · 08-04-2009, 11:27 PM

Recycled products help to minimize the usage of virgin materials. We all should buy products that can be recycled. So, guys lets conserve energy and go green!

KrisNY · 11-01-2009, 07:13 PM

I do agree that restaurants should have the proper recycling bins. I can't see them serving food on paper plates? Not nice restaurants anyway. I do agree that they should use real plates, etc. and then wash them.

crystal · 11-09-2009, 02:27 AM

I think it's a good idea for restaurants nowadays to use green equipments inorder to save energy. I've seen green commercial refrigerators, dishwashers and coolers for sale in the market. These equipments are designed to go green.

wasi90lk · 12-02-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Love4Earth

Is there a list somewhere of green restaraunts?

I would be interested to see if there were any around me.

i did not find a list, but i did find an website related to "green restaurant". check here: http://www.dinegreen.com/.

Green Cleaning Mom · 02-11-2010, 04:12 PM

I'd love to find one for Canada too...!

05-22-2009, 03:46 PM	#1
USGreenLiving Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 9	Green Restaurants I was wondering if you have a green restaurant which is better? To use eco-friendly paper plates and metal or no utensils or standard lead free green plates, glasses & utensils for the diners? I would think if one did the latter it would waste water and put more chemiclas into the environment (are there board of health approved "natural" dishwasher sanitizing agents?) and if paper plates were used might they be put into a compost pile if the food taht was on them was purely organic? If a vegetarian restaurant then might all uneaten scraps be composted? Thanks, Donald

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05-22-2009, 06:58 PM	#2
Love4Earth Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 1	Is there a list somewhere of green restaraunts? I would be interested to see if there were any around me.

05-26-2009, 01:30 PM	#3
executioner Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12	Hi Donald: I think that using paper plates is not much more of an improvement. Think about all those trees. Granted, they are recyclable, but the waste is just too voluminous. What a green restaurant should go for is less waste and that means using plates, utensil and other things that can be washed and well, reused. I agree that the choice of material is important. Plastic plates and utensils might be a good idea, but of course, it's non-biodegradable. It would make sense to use stainless steel utensils and porcelain plates... not only do they help you save the environment, but they add a certain amount of class to your dining establishment! As for the cleaning and washing... there are ways where you could save on water. In one restaurant in the area, I know that they've invested on a lot of plates and utensils. They have a scraps bin where they put all the food scraps, segregate the plates that are too oily and put them in a separate basin with hot or warm water with a little vinegar on it (makes sure the grease stays off) while all the rest go to a separate basin. Using an eco-friendly detergent, they wash their plates from these basins and then rinse them off in cold water. So you see, instead of a running tap to clean off the scraps, and the plates, they use basin water which they said saved them about 50% from their water bills. And oh, the food scraps? It gets composted, and it's used for their organic garden. While some of them are fed to their worm farms.

05-26-2009, 04:32 PM	#4
Paunil Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 13	That's a great system. I hope more restos go green!

07-26-2009, 01:10 AM	#5
naughtyluck Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 14	I think they should require restaurants to use the "Green Bin". The restaurants around me have bins for card board, compostables and trash.

08-04-2009, 11:27 PM	#6
hugolong Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2	Recycled products help to minimize the usage of virgin materials. We all should buy products that can be recycled. So, guys lets conserve energy and go green!

11-01-2009, 07:13 PM	#7
KrisNY Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 7	I do agree that restaurants should have the proper recycling bins. I can't see them serving food on paper plates? Not nice restaurants anyway. I do agree that they should use real plates, etc. and then wash them.

11-09-2009, 02:27 AM	#8
crystal Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 10	I think it's a good idea for restaurants nowadays to use green equipments inorder to save energy. I've seen green commercial refrigerators, dishwashers and coolers for sale in the market. These equipments are designed to go green.

02-11-2010, 04:12 PM	#10
Green Cleaning Mom Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6	I'd love to find one for Canada too...!