ITHACA, N.Y.—The Statler Hotel at Cornell University received the 2014 Good Earthkeeping Award, the greenest award bestowed by the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association. The award recognizes the Statler, which has developed a culture of integrating superior environmental management practices. The honor was given March 3 in Albany, N.Y., at the association’s 2014 Stars of the Industry Gala and Awards Banquet.“This is a very prestigious award, and all of our staff and our student-employees are very proud to have earned it,” says Rick Adie, the general manager of the Statler. “Our initiatives align with the university goals...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Assn. is calling on restaurant operators to participate in an online survey regarding how much unused food is donated, composted, or sent to landfills and other waste disposal facilities. The information gathered will be used to help develop new ways to reduce food waste in the industry. “Food sent to a landfill represents lost opportunities to improve management efficiencies, to reduce operating costs, to feed the hungry, to recover valuable resources, and to realize other benefits,” said Laura Abshire, the NRA’s Director of Sustainability Policy and Government Affairs. “To help reverse this pattern, the National Restaurant...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—An emerging online waste removal sourcing agent and management system is tackling the concerns of home and business owners who want to reduce waste and implement a green waste program for their infrastructures. Grid Waste, started by D.C. entrepreneur Walker Lunn (founder of Envirelation, a D.C. composting service provider serving businesses throughout the D.C. metropolitan area), is connecting waste generators nationwide, with green waste haulers. Co-mingled recycling, single-stream recycling, paper and cardboard recycling and even organic recycling/composting are made available via the website’s interface. Understanding today’s society and its increased awareness of the ecosystem, Grid Waste hopes to...

CROSSVILLE, TENN.—Crossville, Inc. has launched SpeakEasy, a porcelain tile collection offering the look of authentic, old barn wood interpreted in a range of contemporary, large format plank sizes. With its modern take on time-worn wood’s appearance and texture, this line is designed for ease in selling, design and specification as an alternative to traditional hardwoods.According to Crossville’s V.P. of Marketing Lindsey Waldrep, the name of the product reflects Crossville’s intention to present a product that reinvents the wood look and is very simple to work with across commercial and residential markets.“SpeakEasy is all about ease of selection...a great option...

BRANDENBURG, KY.—If you are staying at the Southern Grace Bed & Breakfast in Brandenburg, Ky., and can’t finish your tasty breakfast, don’t even think about throwing your food scraps in the trash. The approximately 70 chickens—free range chickens—will be more than happy to eat what you cannot. According to Theresa Padgett, owner of the 15-acre B&B with her husband David, all food scraps are either fed to the chickens or composted. The plate-to-chicken approach to waste management is just one of the ways the B&B owners work to lighten their property’s impact on the planet. In the garden that...

CHESTNUT RIDGE, N.Y.—Rubicon Global, a leading provider of sustainable waste and recycling solutions, and BioHitech America, a leader in the development of food waste disposal technology, have teamed up to add BioHitech America’s (BHA) Eco-Safe Digester and BioHitech Cloud to Rubicon Global’s arsenal of green technological tools.It is estimated that as much as 34 million tons of food waste are sent to landfills in the United States each year. Given the momentum of statewide policies requiring food waste recycling, the message of burying food waste in landfills being no longer a sustainable or acceptable solution is being heard loud...

CHESTNUT RIDGE, N.Y.—BioHitech America, a leading provider of organic waste solutions and the exclusive distributor of the Eco-Safe Digester, a food waste management solution, recently closed its second round of funding led by Penn Venture Partners LP, a venture capital fund located in Harrisburg, Pa.CEO Frank E. Celli welcomed this investment and pointed to the recent groundbreaking action by New York City. “We are glad to see the world’s greatest city advancing its efforts towards zero waste with the recently passed legislation. Our staff played a significant role in the inclusion of aerobic, point of generation systems like our...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes The Mustard Seed of Central Florida as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Since 2011, The Mustard Seed Recycle program has deconstructed more than 120,000 mattresses, saving more than 720,000 cubic yards of landfill space, reducing dump expenses and protecting the environment. This recycling produced bales of toppers, foam, shredable metal and mulched wood generating income to fund the furniture and clothing program.The Mustard Seed is the only furniture and clothing bank in Central Florida. Call (407) 875-2040, ext. 113 to get a quote for recycling...

BOSTON—The Patrick Administration announced final statewide commercial food waste disposal ban regulations to take effect on October 1, 2014. The ban will divert food waste to energy-generating and composting facilities and reduce the Commonwealth’s waste stream. “We are committed to protecting our natural resources and creating jobs as the Commonwealth’s clean energy economy grows,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “The disposal ban is critical to achieving our aggressive waste disposal reduction goals and it is in line with our commitment to increase clean energy production.” The ban, regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), will...

TAMPA, FLA.—Prem Thomas introduces its Guru Sandals, taking inspiration from the ancient wood methiyedi (meth-ee-yed-ee) sandal. Using primarily natural rubber, Guru sandals are biodegradable and much better for the environment than traditional flip-flops or sandals. Because Gurus come from trees, the brand will plant a tree in India for every pair sold. The traditional Indian toe post design makes Gurus more comfortable than flip-flops. Straps adjust to any ankle and foot size with an easy twist.Go to Guru Sandals.