Here's My Great Green Idea!

When I decided to move my floral company to a new location it was necesary to remodel the building we were moving into. I did what I call a "green remodel". All materials (wood, carpet,doors and windows) that were removed from the old building where put outside and divided into re-usable and non-re-usable materials. Non-re-usable materials were given away to local farmers (and who ever asked) to use to build animal pens, chicken coops and the like. Re-usable materials where gone over, nails pulled, stacked piles according to size and shape. This material was then re-used to re-frame walls and doors, build counters, shelves and ribbon racks. All materials needed to make the new location into a floral shop (that were not already on site) were purchased used from salvage yards, refrigeration companies and recycled material companies. I tried to purchase everything I needed from re-usable sources. In an effort not to waste any materials broken ceramic floor tiles where used to create mosaic patterns and finish floors. A green house is currently being built using recycled sliding glass doors (that many home owners are currently removing from their homes). The idea was not to put anything in the landfill and to recycle every bit of building material possible. This included the outdoor lanscapes as well and all plant material and fencing material that was removed was re-used in other areas of the property. Recycling areas where made to hold cardboard. paper, cans and plastic. A compost area was set up for floral stems, leaves and biodegradable materials. Employees have taken an active roll by taking responsibility for one or more areas of recycling. One is in charge of cans and food stuff (feeds goats and pigs with left over food out of company refrigerator weekly). Another takes all card board and paper to recycling center weekly. Another is in charge of sticks, stems and left over plant material wastes, which go into the compose bin. The water in our empty floral containers and buckets is set out to warm up (after being in the cooler) and used to water plants in the store and out side in the lanscape. A container exchange is part of the everyday program to encourage customers to bring in old containers (vases, baskets and plastic pots) so they can be reused. A conserted effort is made to purchase from companies that recycle. All cards sold in the store are puchased from a company that recycles all their paper and makes their cards from recycled paper. Copy paper from printers and faxes are recyled by staff in to scrap paper pads. The company also collects used cell phones to send to charities that rebuild or recycle the cell phone parts. Old t-shirts (from employees families) are bought in and cut up in to hand towel sizes and used for cleaning and counter wiping. Flower boxes that have waxed surfaces are cut down and used as delivery containers. Employees are encouraged by all the efforst and come up new ideas all the time.