Green Biz PC

Park City, Utah

Green Team

Brunch n Learn Recap- Food Waste

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Tackling Food Waste in Our Community

On August 14, 2024, the Green Business Program hosted a Brunch & Learn event focused on the critical issue of food waste. Local businesses, sustainability experts, and service providers gathered to share insights and strategies for reducing food waste, revealing both the surprising extent of the problem and practical solutions to address it.

Eye-Opening Discoveries in Food Waste

The panelists kicked off the event by shedding light on the alarming scale of food waste. Brittani White (Operations & Engagement Project Manager, Momentum Recycling) shared that up to 80% of waste in some businesses is food waste. Dana Williamson (Founder & CEO, Waste Less Solutions) highlighted that many people are unaware of the environmental damage caused by food waste in landfills, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and action.

Two other panelists shared their hopeful stories, demonstrating just how manageable the problem can be. Carissa Deveport (Owner, Este Pizza) revealed that since partnering with Momentum in 2021, they’ve successfully diverted 26,000 pounds of food waste. Jon Green, (Office Manager, Savoury Kitchen) underscored the simplicity of the solution—providing labeled bins and setting expectations around all employee behaviors can make a significant difference.

Managing Pre-Consumer Food Waste in the Kitchen

Managing food waste before it even reaches the consumer was another critical topic. Panelists shared a variety of strategies employed in restaurant kitchens:

  • Occupancy Reports: Keeping a close eye on expected customer numbers allows for smarter purchasing decisions, particularly during quieter months.
  • Creative Recipes: Using scraps from one recipe as ingredients in another, such as in dressings or sauces, can significantly cut down on waste.
  • Animal Feed: Some businesses bring food scraps to chickens, turning waste into a resource.
  • Catering Industry Practices: Thoughtful menu planning and combining orders reduce waste in catering. Offering a “chef’s discretion” menu based on available ingredients also helps.
  • Donating Leftovers: Leftover food or last-minute canceled orders can be donated to organizations like Peace House, ensuring that prepared food doesn’t go to waste.
  • Customer Education: Educating customers about sustainable menu options can be an effective marketing strategy.

Addressing Post-Consumer Food Waste

Even with preventive measures, post-consumer food waste is inevitable. Momentum helps businesses by setting up diversion systems, collecting food waste, and delivering it to Wasatch Resource Recovery, where it’s converted into methane for energy and compost for farmers.

Dana from Waste Less Solutions emphasized that not all food waste is truly waste—edible surplus can be redirected to feed people. By partnering with organizations like Waste Less Solutions, businesses can ensure that surplus food is donated, while inedible waste is composted.

Making Food Waste Reduction the Norm

To make food waste reduction a standard practice, businesses need to embed it into their culture. Local governments can support this by implementing ordinances that encourage food waste diversion. Although there may be initial costs, the long-term savings and environmental benefits make these practices worthwhile. Partnerships with nonprofits and waste recovery services are crucial in ensuring that both edible and inedible food waste is effectively managed.

Didn’t Get to Ask Your Question?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch! As always, you can reach out to your Green Business coordinators!

Brittani White – Operations & Engagement Project Manager, Momentum Recycling

Dana Williamson – Founder & CEO, Waste Less Solutions

Carissa Deveport – Owner, Este Pizza

Jon Green – Office Manager, Savoury Kitchen

Lunch and Learn Recap- Water (5/15/24)

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Here are some of the highlights from our recent Lunch and Learn on the topic of water.

QWEL Program

The Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Certification is an essential program for anyone involved in irrigation:

  • Who Should Get Certified: Residential and commercial irrigation professionals.
  • Benefits: Reduce water usage by 20-30% (on average), gain recognition by being listed in the EPA and QWEL directory, access to free resources from the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping (CWEL), and networking opportunities.
  • Cost & Commitment: $100 for a comprehensive 20-hour training, with a free annual renewal. For more information, check the CWEL Website.

Local Initiatives

Park City and Summit County are spearheading several initiatives to enhance water management and conservation:

  • Wastewater Innovations: Alternative septic systems allow you to use graywater to water your plants subsurface!
  • Rebates and Programs for Water Conservation:
    • Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers: Available with rebates to help manage water use efficiently. For more information click here.
    • WaterSmart Program: Assists in identifying leaks and water usage anomalies. To get started click here.
    • Turf Removal Rebate: Receive $3.00 per square foot of live turf removed through an agreement with Weber Basin. For more information click here.

For more detailed notes and slides, please see the attachment.

We hope to see you at future Green Business events!

5_15_2024-Water-Notes-combinedDownload

Lunch and Learn Recap- Energy (2/14/24)

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Our second lunch and learn on the topic of energy was a great success. Missed it? No worries—we’ve distilled the key insights to help your business save money and boost sustainability.

1. Track Energy Use and Benchmarking: A great place to start is by monitoring your electricity and natural gas consumption. As Peter Nelson explained, this foundational step not only helps in understanding usage patterns but also sets the stage for cost and waste reduction and efficiency upgrades. The EPA’s EnergyStar Portfolio Manager is a great tool for benchmarking, allowing you to easily measure and improve your property’s performance. If you are ready to take the first step in reducing your energy costs (and associated carbon footprint), send us an email and we’ll help you get started! 

2. Tax Deductions and Incentives: Take advantage of tax deductions and incentives to fund your sustainability initiatives. From the Inflation Reduction Act to utility-sponsored programs like Rocky Mountain Power and Dominion’s energy efficiency incentives, there are an abundance of opportunities to offset project costs and accelerate ROI. Whether it’s upgrading lighting systems or implementing HVAC enhancements, these incentives can make sustainable investments even more financially attractive. Get in touch if you want to learn more! 

3. Renewable Energy in Utah: The landscape of renewable energy in Utah is rapidly evolving, with more renewables coming online than ever before. Soon, we’ll see the launch of the Community Renewable Energy Program (Utah Renewable Communities), opening up new avenues for businesses to access clean energy resources. These renewable options offer opportunities for businesses to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact. 

For more detailed notes and slides, please see the attachment.

We hope to see you at future Green Business events!

Energy-2_14_2024-Notes-merged-1Download

The benefits of providing health insurance

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One of the five pillars of the green business program is ‘Thriving Community & Equity’ – a pillar that focuses on how businesses can make positive impacts for both their community and their employees. One of the key ways employers can support their workers is by providing health insurance… I know often easier said than done! Providing health insurance coverage can be really expensive for small businesses, but we all know that a healthy workforce is important to our community. 

At the Park City Chamber & Visitor’s Bureau, we’ve spent a lot of time discussing how employees who have high-quality health benefit options are healthier, happier, and more engaged in their work. Fortunately, in partnership with the Heber Valley Chamber and local insurance experts, we are now able to provide a new program to help small businesses offer health insurance to their employees! You can find more information HERE. 

This new group insurance program gives chamber member businesses affordable access to medical, dental, vision, and other benefits (like pet insurance!) to their employees, including employers with as few as two employees. Our hope is that this program will decrease the insurance burden on small businesses and help them secure and support the top talent that keeps our community running! 

Changing our ways with transportation…

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It is hard to think about life without a car, and the unfortunate associated pollution into our airspace. In 2015, Summit County Council adopted a Climate Action Plan with a goal to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from a 2014 baseline by 2050. Sadly, a recent emissions inventory reports that instead of decreasing, County emissions have grown. The number one contribution is transportation.

The primary way we, as individuals and businesses, can curb our transportation-related emissions is to not get into a vehicle…. easy right? Summit County’s extensive network of paved bike paths and transit options through High Valley Transit (HVT) and Park City Transit (PCT), including off-the-beaten path routes through HVT Microtransit services, can assist. Could your business offer incentives for commuting via transit or bike, teleworking, or a ride-share program? Additionally, since grid electricity is becoming increasingly supplied by renewables, could you or your business purchase an alternate fuel vehicle (i.e. hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicle) and/or install an EV charger(s)?  Tax credits or rebates are offered for many such actions!

Changing our ways with transportation is challenging, but has significant potential to reduce emissions within our County. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our green business team with questions about transportation. Thank you for all you do!

Zack Darby
Summit County Sustainability Analyst

It’s Fresh At Done To Your Taste Catering

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You’ll find a garden full of edible flowers, herbs and tomatoes on-site at this Done To Your Taste Catering in Kamas, Utah. They work hard to include local ingredients in their menus, including produce from a local Oakley farm. They even capture water in their four rain barrels to hydrate their gardens! Their garden’s harvest is revealed above in Eileen’s “Garden to Glass” cocktail. Love your thinking, Done To Your Taste Catering!