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About Green Restaurant program |
| How Restaurants Go “Green” Bay Area restaurants become Certified as Green Restaurants by committing to the following “earth-friendly” environmental and conservation measures: First, they bring their restaurant operations into compliance with all environmental regulations. Second, these restaurants adopt pollution prevention and resource conservation practices that are designed to reduce energy and water consumption, reduce food waste, and employ more environmentally-friendly products in their operations. As part of their certification, green restaurants undergo a series of inspections by regulatory agencies and Bay Area Green Business Program certifiers to ensure that they have met all the requirements of the Green Restaurant Program. While certification requirements can vary slightly from city to city, here are examples of what green-certified restaurants commit to do: Conserve Energy and Water 1. Use low flow pre-rinse spray nozzles at the dish machine. 2. Use Energy Star compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) instead of incandescent bulbs in store-rooms, break rooms, offices, wall sconces, kitchen exhaust hoods and walk-in refrigerators. 3. Use ultra low-flow toilets and flow restrictors on restroom faucets. Reduce, reuse, recycle 4. Buy products in returnable, reusable or recyclable containers. 5. Recycle food*, cardboard, paper, glass, metal and plastics. (*food waste, along with waxed cardboard, paper napkins, paper beverage cartons and wooden crates can be picked up for off-site composting in many parts of the Bay Area.) 6. Buy recycled-content paper products whenever possible, including hand towels, napkins, office and food service uses. 7. Use take-out containers that can be composted (paper) or recycled (#1 and #2 plastics, aluminum) instead of styrofoam. Pollution Prevention 8. Properly maintain grease traps and kitchen hoods to prevent overflows and emissions to the sewer and storm drain systems. 9. Keep outdoor waste storage, parking and sidewalks free of litter, grease spills and other potential pollutants. Use sweeping and spot cleaning for most clean ups. If washing is needed, use a cleaning method that keeps cleaning water out of storm drains. 10. Use organically or sustainably produced foods in the kitchen (this is an optional practice not followed by every certified green restaurant.) In Alameda County, there are currently 39 restaurants in the Green Restaurant program, and there numerous others who have applied and are currently in the process of being certified. Links: Alameda County Green Business Program: http://www.greenbiz.ca.gov/AboutUs.html |
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