Q: Can I recycle plastic bags? A: This is a question we get asked very often. From the bags you get with your shopping to the plastic bags, wrap and film that encase many of the items you buy. It is… Continue Reading...
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27 Apr 2018
While New York mulls a ban on single-use plastic bags, San Francisco just took another step forward. Now in the West Coast city, which already has a bag ban in place, it is possible to recycle plastic bags and other clean,… Continue Reading...
20 Mar 2018
Diversion initiatives such as recycling and composting mandates are popping up across the country as more and more local governments start to realize the value of zero waste. This is just the beginning. Once cities begin to ramp up their zero… Continue Reading...
27 Feb 2018
Assess the efficiency of your waste and recycling program with just one look? Yes, it is possible. You can get an idea of what is happening by just glancing around you. Is your waste and recycling program optimized? Is it running… Continue Reading...
22 Feb 2018
The future of office waste management is here, and it is simpler than you think. This white paper shows how you can optimize your waste and recycling program, and achieve multiple benefits, with one simple change — switching to a centralized… Continue Reading...
18 Jan 2018
The Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) Climate Corps is a terrific program that places trained fellows on staff at businesses over the summer to help jump start clean energy projects. Great Forest worked with EDF fellows on two projects last year with… Continue Reading...
10 Jan 2018
As we begin 2018, let’s look back on some highlights that made the news last year to see how it will affect your business this year. Let’s continue doing great things together! 1) TRUE Zero Waste In September 2017, the… Continue Reading...
20 Dec 2017
Did you know a portion of Great Forest’s profits support cleanup work in some of the world’s worst polluted places? We do this through the nonprofit Pure Earth, founded by Great Forest President Richard Fuller. And this year we joined… Continue Reading...
20 Dec 2017
Did you know Americans throw out 25% more waste during the holidays? Think of all the packaging, gift wrap, food and more that end up in our waste bins. The Ohio EPA has some great infographics and tips on how to… Continue Reading...
29 Nov 2017
Microgrants for food waste reduction DSNY’s Foundation for New York’s Strongest has launched a Microgrant program to help NYC businesses take action to address food waste. Grants are worth up to $15,000 in funding and technical support. Applications are due Jan. 8, 2018. Grants… Continue Reading...
8 Nov 2017
How do you increase recycling and lower costs? By making recycling simple and convenient… at least that is the idea behind single-stream recycling’s popularity. But the reality is more complicated. The number of communities and cities using single-stream recycling has reportedly increased from 20 to… Continue Reading...
8 Nov 2017
First published Nov. 2017. After a year of collaboration among architects and New York waste professionals (including Great Forest), AIANY/Center for Architecture has launched their Zero Waste Design Guidelines to encourage building design that facilitates recycling and waste diversion.… Continue Reading...
8 Nov 2017
Education and learning is a big part of what we do at Great Forest. This is part of the formula for success at every business we work with. Recently, David Troust, Great Forest’s V.P. of business development, was part of… Continue Reading...
30 Oct 2017
If you live and work in this world, this open letter is addressed to YOU. The open letter–It is time to put pollution on the map–is an urgent plea from Richard Fuller, President of the nonprofit Pure Earth (and Great Forest), and Dr. Philip Landrigran,… Continue Reading...
30 Oct 2017
Great Forest President Richard Fuller, in his capacity as President of the nonprofit Pure Earth, joined former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, former President of Mexico Carlos Salinas, and other leaders and experts on October 23 for the launch of The Lancet Commission… Continue Reading...
27 Sep 2017
It is one of NYC’s most talked-about new developments with over 750,000 sq. ft of mixed-use commercial/industrial space. Following a waste audit investigation, Great Forest identified key problems with the waste and recycling program at one of its buildings. This flaw was preventing the… Continue Reading...
27 Sep 2017
Last month, Washington, D.C. became the first city in the world to receive a LEED for Cities Platinum leadership certification, the highest award bestowed upon cities by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). D.C. has 120 LEED-certified projects, with… Continue Reading...
24 Sep 2017
The cost of waste removal has been on the rise over the past decade, and the trend seems to be continuing upward. One study predicts waste disposal services to increase at an “annualized rate of 2%.” Not only are waste costs increasing,… Continue Reading...
24 Sep 2017
What Is Zero Waste? What is zero waste? A lack of clarity about what it means may be keeping some businesses from reaping the benefits of zero waste. Is zero waste the same thing as “zero waste to landfill”? Does zero waste mean… Continue Reading...
16 Aug 2017
We’re glad to announce the return of the HANYC Sustainability Awards with a new venue and date. This year, winners of the fourth annual HANYC Sustainability Awards will be announced and celebrated on Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Second Annual… Continue Reading...
16 Aug 2017
Using comprehensive waste audits, Great Forest recently helped a global consumer products brand uncover a breakdown in their waste and recycling program that kept its operation from running at optimum level. Our investigation also revealed a sizable revenue stream they… Continue Reading...
9 Aug 2017
What is in your trash? A Great Forest study based on 100 commercial waste audits revealed that 77% of what is usually thrown out as trash is NOT trash at all but recyclable materials. Continue Reading...
4 Aug 2017
REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) President John Banks recently reached out to the industry about New York City’s updated commercial waste and recycling laws, which began enforcement on August 1, 2017. As the city with the biggest concentration… Continue Reading...
19 Jul 2017
Attention all NYC businesses. The warning period is over. Commercial waste and recycling law enforcement is underway. Are you ready? What should you do to be in compliance and avoid fines? Read our Q&A On New Waste And Recycling Rules – What… Continue Reading...
12 Jul 2017
Did you take part in Daylight Hour 2017? This year, Great Forest joined clients and more than 820 offices around the world, turning off the lights in about 100 million square feet of office space, saving enough energy to power 9,400… Continue Reading...
21 Jun 2017
Great Forest attended the Waste Expo in New Orleans in May to discuss trends with industry experts and get a peek into new innovations in the field. The event drew over 12,000 participants and 620 exhibitors. Here is our quick… Continue Reading...
21 Jun 2017
This could be the summer of reckoning. Americans just learned that the U.S. is turning its back on the Paris Agreement. With that at the back of our minds, Great Forest team members from across the country gathered recently in Pennsylvania to… Continue Reading...
13 Jun 2017
NYC hotels are being fined. Now help is on its way. Join us for the upcoming HANYC Waste Management Seminar on June 29, organized by the Hotel Association of NYC with support from Great Forest. The event was organized quickly… Continue Reading...
12 Jun 2017
We are thrilled to receive the Daylight Hour 2017 “Gear Head” award for best monitoring and analysis, as documented in our case study, which is also featured at the Building Energy Exchange. Thanks to the creative folks behind the annual Daylight… Continue Reading...
5 May 2017
The music will go on, at least for two baby grand pianos past their prime. The instruments came from the Grand Ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Rather than disposing of the old pianos, the hotel worked with Great… Continue Reading...
5 May 2017
Great Forest will be in New Orleans for the WasteExpo, a key annual gathering of waste industry experts. If you are attending, look for us. We will be meeting with vendors and talking to industry insiders to keep you in the… Continue Reading...
4 May 2017
Read the press release See the case study for details After a successful pilot, Great Forest launched an innovative program in the Mid-Atlantic region to take waste management to the next level. Now we are proud to reveal the results. Working with… Continue Reading...
5 Apr 2017
Great Forest founder Richard Fuller’s nonprofit Pure Earth has partnered with supermodel Molly Bair and over 20 leading jewelry designers to curate a special collection of jewelry crafted using recycled, Fairtrade, or mercury-free gold for auction. “Consumers have probably… Continue Reading...
5 Apr 2017
This year, Earth Hour fell on a weekend! Nevertheless, we heard from clients around the country who went dark for at least an hour. The action is a great reminder, as we approach Earth Day, that we all need to renew… Continue Reading...
3 Apr 2017
Accurate metrics is key to a successful waste and recycling program. It helps you evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts, and determine if changes are needed. The numbers also inform your overall sustainability reporting and affect your goals. But what… Continue Reading...
3 Apr 2017
With regulations targeting organics on the rise nationwide, a new online resource backed by the USDA, EPA, and other partners, aims to gather relevant material together in one place to make it easier for businesses and organizations looking for information and… Continue Reading...
7 Mar 2017
No matter where your business is located across the country, staying on top of new and updated regulations is key to avoiding fines, which can add up. Take note of the date a law goes into effect, and the date… Continue Reading...
7 Mar 2017
In NYC, inspectors are currently out in force issuing fines for non-compliance of the city’s new organics law, and gearing up to enforce updated waste and recycling rules in a few months. NYC hotels seem to be bearing the brunt of… Continue Reading...
27 Feb 2017
ORGANICS New rules began enforcement Jan. 2017. Fines are being issued now. The new business organics rule applies to hotels and businesses with food and beverage operations. Law includes hotels over 150 rooms with any size back-of-house food preparation and delivered… Continue Reading...
31 Jan 2017
The beginning of a whole new year is a great time to review your sustainability strategy, and set the tone for the months ahead. What should you do? 1) Check on new and upcoming regulations Ensure you are in compliance… Continue Reading...
21 Dec 2016
CONGRATULATIONS ON ANOTHER GREAT YEAR 2016 has been such an eventful year. What did we all accomplish together? Below is a short list of highlights. Happy holidays from the entire Great Forest team. The EPA incorporated Great Forest’s volume to weight (VTW)… Continue Reading...
19 Dec 2016
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recently incorporated Great Forest’s volume to weight (VTW) data into their updated industry standard for calculating waste and recycling weights from volume. These conversions can now be used across all industries to help standardize how waste and… Continue Reading...
12 Dec 2016
Register now for Innovation in Waste Management, hosted by the NYASG. Great Forest CEO Ross Guberman will join experts from Rubicon Global, Terracycle and others to discuss what’s next in waste management and recycling. They will offer insights on “..the current… Continue Reading...
28 Nov 2016
Each year, over 100 million tons of material end up in landfills. This includes many reusable items–such as furniture, equipment and electronics–from businesses that are renovating or clearing out their storage spaces. Hotels, in particular, regularly find themselves having to deal with… Continue Reading...
28 Nov 2016
What do you do if you need to get rid of 100 gallons of furniture polish and clear out over 400 beds? While many businesses would simply pay to get the items hauled away, often to the landfill, the Fairmont Hotel… Continue Reading...
22 Nov 2016
Congratulations! Winners of the 2016 HANYC Sustainability Awards were revealed in New York City on November 14, 2016 during HX: The Hotel Experience 2016, North America’s largest hospitality industry trade event. Presented by the Hotel Association of New York City,… Continue Reading...
15 Nov 2016
America Recycles Day is November 15. It is the one day to remind yourself and everyone around you about the importance of recycling. NEED HELP? Here are 20 TIPS to get you started. Following this list of 20 tips will… Continue Reading...
10 Nov 2016
When paper is shredded AND then recycled, you are not only handling your confidential/sensitive documents corrrectly, but you are also being environmentally friendly. You are reducing the demand for lumber, water and energy required to produce new paper. For secure… Continue Reading...
26 Oct 2016
Oct 2016–NYC’s expanded energy efficiency laws will now cover more buildings than before. An additional 10,000 properties to be more precise, covering nearly 350 million square feet. Chances are that your NYC building, portfolio of buildings, or your tenants WILL BE AFFECTED by these newest changes… Continue Reading...