March 6, 2008 : 10:27 AM ET
The Best Friends kitchen and cafeteria is now green, and it has nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day.
It’s about being environmentally friendly, and it’s happening sanctuary-wide. The Village Cafe, however, was the first to go 100 percent green by using compostable-only items.
“We bring in anywhere from 100 to 150 people here each day just over the lunch hour,” says restaurant manager Nicholas Meyeres. “With the number of folks who come here, it’s only natural to have refuse trash. But by using recycled products and eco-friendly trash bags, we can contribute to a healthy environment.”
It’s something Nicholas has been thinking about doing for a while. Then, when a “going green” committee began meeting about turning the sanctuary 100 percent green by the end of 2008, Nicholas thought, “There’s no reason we can’t get a jump on it in the cafeteria.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
First, Nicholas did research on the Internet and found the best biodegradable kitchen items on the market, including napkins, cornstarch plastic ware and to-go dishes (cups, lids and food containers) made from sugar cane.
“The amazing thing about these products is they are not just recycled,” Nicholas says. “The items we have can completely compost and disintegrate in 30 to 65 days, whether they’re made from potato or cornstarch.”
Nicholas went one step further and ordered biodegradable trash bags. It only makes sense, he says: “What good is a biodegradable item if the bag it’s stored in isn’t biodegradable?” So they immediately began using plastic-like bags made from corn. Surprisingly, he says, they’re sturdy, plus the items are priced reasonably.
The final step is to use biodegradable soaps, but Nicholas is still researching those, as well as watching for other eco-friendly products as they’re developed.
The entire sanctuary – from animal areas to offices – already collects paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles for recycling. Mary Girouard, copy editor for sanctuary publications, oversees recycling at the Village, where the kitchen and some offices are located. Representatives for each area collect and put out the recycling items for their respective areas once a week, Mary says. Then Blue Sky Recycling, which provides portable bins, picks up the recyclable materials and takes them to its center in St. George, Utah.
The going-green committee is also looking into possibly developing a compost site on the sanctuary grounds.
In the meantime, a month has passed since the kitchen has gone green, and Nicholas couldn’t be happier. “This has been a passion of mine for quite some time,” he says, “and it was the logical, unavoidable conclusion to do it here in the kitchen. It makes sense.”
Written by Cathy Scott
Photo of chef Nicholas Meyeres by Gary Kalpakoff
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March 14, 2008 : 10:15 AM ET
posted by: rmlamasney25
Thank you, Nicholas! I am going to use them for our July 4th party...I always felt horrible about all that plastic getting thrown "away" - it doesn't really go away, does it.
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March 11, 2008 : 8:37 PM ET
posted by: kittychump
Excellent - please publicize this to the max including in your area. This is a superb role model. My only question is this: is the corn the products are made from organically grown with green farming practices?
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March 11, 2008 : 3:39 PM ET
posted by: nicholasm
rmlamasney25, …. Feel free to visit
http://www.biodegradablestore.com/ to see the products for yourself, or check ‘em out the next time you’re visiting The Village Café for a hearty and nutritious lunch! ;) Or go to our kitchen blog at
http://network.bestfriends.org/Blogs/Detail.aspx?b=1468 for more information.
Nicholas Meyeres
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March 11, 2008 : 12:17 PM ET
posted by: rmlamasney25
Are these products available to the general public, or do they need to be ordered from restaurant suppliers? I would love to use these for parties etc. My husband's big idea was edible plates and flatware, but somehow that never materialized.....
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March 10, 2008 : 11:47 AM ET
posted by: veganmarcy
great news, and i'm sure daphne the pig can't wait to help "monitor" the compost pile.
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March 9, 2008 : 5:03 PM ET
posted by: lovesdogs4ever
So many more organizations could follow suit. What a fine example of what to do to help our planet especially with the size of Best Friends. You are making a difference in the lives of animals and now you are helping the environment.
Thank you Nicholas! Thank you Best Friends!
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March 9, 2008 : 1:31 PM ET
posted by: cottageantiques
All of you at BestFriends are such a good example of what everyone should be passionate about. I'm so impressed!
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March 9, 2008 : 12:49 PM ET
posted by: sallyh
Excellent Nicholas! This is such a wonderful start for the whole sanctuary. Thank you!
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March 9, 2008 : 4:23 AM ET
posted by: Dogsorbust
Congrats Nicholas! The next time we are at the sanctuary we will make a point of checking out the new 'green' ware!!
Way to go Best Friends on being ecologically friendly!!
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March 8, 2008 : 5:29 PM ET
posted by: marys@bestfriends.org
Way to go! Lovin' your food and this new development!
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March 8, 2008 : 4:37 PM ET
posted by: mxipp
Way to go, Nicholas! And now that you've got that project under control, how about getting to work on the Angel Canyon Cookbook? I would love to find that in the gift shop next time I'm at BF! Put me down for one copy for me, and several copies for friends & family!
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March 8, 2008 : 1:21 PM ET
posted by: honeybear
THANK YOU NICHOLAS!!! This is fantastic news. Eating at Angel Village has always been an amazingly delicious experience, and now it is environmentally friendly as well. I was happy to find a recycle bin at the cabins when I stayed there last year. You guys really rock!
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March 6, 2008 : 11:00 AM ET
posted by: Celeste
Way to go, Nicholas! You're ahead of the game, leader of the pack and an inspiration to us here at Best Friends!!
And on top of it all, your menus are fantastic every day. I love your blog about the Cafe at
http://network.bestfriends.org/Blogs/Detail.aspx?b=1468 Celeste Crimi Network Member Support Best Friends Animal Society