Certified Green Business Program

Resturant: Pollution Provention

  • Assess yourbusiness to identify ways to prevent pollution. Review the plan annually for new measures to implement.
  • Check Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and labels for all cleaning products, building maintenance materials, pesticides, and fertilizers you use. Identify safer alternatives.
  • Evaluate each area of your business to identify actual and potential sources of pollution, and ways to prevent it.
  • Call your local Household Hazardous Waste Program for disposal of hazardous substances not in use.
Prevent pollution in 7 ways.
All Areas:
  • Locate all potential pollutants away from food preparation, service and storage areas as well as sewer and storm drains.
  • Provide containment for large amounts of liquid supplies.
  • Routinely check storage areas, pipes and equipment for leaks, spills and emissions of chemicals, paints, and cleaners; repair any deficient items found.
  • Use enclosed delivery systems for transferring cleaners and/or other chemicals to prevent spills.
  • Store any potentially hazardous materials securely, control access and rotate stock to use oldest material first.
  • Store deliveries and supplies under a roof.

    • Indoors:

  • Scrape grease from trays, grills and pans into the waste grease can to minimize kitchen grease going down sewer drains. 
  • Place baskets in drains to catch solids which then can be composted.
  • Avoid placing leftover beverages and wet food in the dumpster.
  • Use dry surface cleaning methods rather than hosing down. Finish clean-up with damp mop or wipe.

    Outdoors:

  • Routinely check for leaks and establish a "ground staining" inspection routine in parking lots.
  • Keep receiving, loading docks, dumpster and parking areas free of litter, oil drips and debris.
  • Keep dumpsters covered when not in use.
  • Do not wash cars, equipment, floor mats or other items outside where run-off water flows straight to the storm drain; this wash water should be directed to a sewer drain.

  • Monitor subcontractors to ensure their activities are not polluting storm drains. Prevent erosion during all landscape, c
  • Clean parking lots by sweeping or using equipment that collects dirty water (which must be disposed of to sanitary sewer).
  • Post signs at trouble spots (e.g., loading docks, dumpster areas, outside hoses) describing proper practices to prevent pollutants from reaching storm drains.
  • Label all storm water drains with “No dumping, Drains to Bay” message.
  • Regularly check and maintain storm drain openings and basins that are located on your property. Keep litter, debris and soil away from storm drains.
  • Clean private catch basins annually, before the first rain and as needed thereafter.
  • Use shut-off valves at storm drains or keep temporary storm drain plugs at loading docks or outdoor areas for quick spill response.
  • Use secondary containment or berms in liquid storage and transfer areas to capture spills.
  • Keep a spill kit handy to catch/collect spills from leaking company or employee vehicles.
  • Use landscaping to prevent erosion problems, especially during construction or remodeling.
  • Mulch, use ground cover, or use a barrier to prevent exposed soil from washing landscaped areas into storm drain.
  • Have an outdoor ashtray or cigarette “butt” can for smokers.
  • Other:      

    Reduce chemical use in 3 ways.

    • Buy organically/sustainably grown foods or beverages for the kitchen. List specific product replacements
    • Restrict use of hazardous products by: Buying them in small quantities. Limiting access to authorized staff.
    • Use one or a few multipurpose cleaners, rather than many special-purpose cleaners.
    • Replace harmful products with safer alternatives. List specific replacements for Disinfectants, Sanitizers, and cleaners.
    • Replace aerosols with pump dispensers.
    • Buy recycled paint and low VOC products when available (paint, paint removal products, etc.).
    • Buy cleaners, paints, batteries, and other supplies in optimally sized containers for your office to avoid unnecessary packaging, as well as left-over and expired materials!
    • Replace standard fluorescent lights with low or no mercury fluorescent lights.
    • Use rechargeable batteries and appliances, such as hand-held vacuum cleaners and flashlights.
    • Use recycled oil for vehicles/equipment.
    • Use unbleached and/or chlorine-free paper products (copy paper, paper towels, napkins, coffee filters, etc.).
    • Replace toxic permanent ink markers/pens with water-based ones.
    • Print promotional materials with vegetable or other low-VOC inks.

    • Use natural or low emissions building materials, carpets or furniture.
    • Use electric (not gas) powered tools.
    • Use wet scraping, tenting or HEPA-vac instruments to reduce dust and debris when removing paint; avoid chemical paint stripping.
    • Use high-efficiency paint spray equipment.
    • Do business with other “green” vendors or services. Eliminate or reduce use of chemical pesticides by implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program:
    • Specify in pest control contracts that primary pest management methods include non-chemical pest prevention and pest exclusion.
    • Use traps, barriers and less toxic pesticides (such as soaps, oils, microbials and baits). Apply on an as-needed (vs. set) schedule.
    • Set up storage and sanitation procedures and planting, irrigation and cultivation (e.g., pest-resistant plants) to discourage pests.
    • Other:      

      Recycle/reuse 3 of the following potential pollutants :
    • Restaurant’s used cooking oil (give or sell for use as alternative fuel, such as biodiesel).
    • Excess paint/solvents (keep only what’s needed for touch ups, then give remainder to hazardous waste collection program, donate to anti-graffiti program, or return to contractor or manufacturer).
    • Used copier toner cartridges (take back to supplier or send back to manufacturer for recycling or refilling).
    • Ink jet cartridges (send or take back for recycling or refilling).
    • Car fluids from company vehicles.
    • Donate for reuse (not just recycle) electronic equipment, such as computers, phones, pagers, etc.
    • Other:      

     

    Reduce vehicle emissions in 3 ways:
    • When possible, arrange for a single vendor who makes deliveries for several items.
    • Patronize services close to your business (e.g., food/catering, copy center, etc.) and encourage employees to do the same.
    • Carefully plan delivery routes to eliminate unnecessary trips.
    • Keep company vehicles well maintained to prevent leaks and minimize emissions; encourage customers to do the same.
    • Other:      

    Commute Alternatives

    • Make transit schedules, commuter ride sign-ups, etc.available to staff. Get help from Metro using their “Ridematch Tool”.
    • Offer telecommuting opportunities and/or flexible schedules so workers can avoid heavy traffic commutes.
    • Hire locally.
    • Other:      

    Commute Alternatives for Larger Employers

    • Offer lockers and showers for staff who walk, jog or bicycled to work.
    • Offer secure bicycle storage for staff and customers.
      _
    • Offer employee incentives for carpooling or using mass transit (e.g. guaranteed ride home or subsidized transit passes).
    • Set aside car/van pool parking spaces.
    • Provide commuter van.
    • Encourage bicycling to work by offering rebates on bicycles bought for commuting.
    • Offer a shuttle service to and from bus, train and/or light rail stops.
    • Other:      

    Other Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    • Complete a CO2 or eco-footprint calculator to determine your own greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Convert company vehicles to low emission vehicles (electric, hybrid, natural gas or alternative fuels).
    •   Offer electric vehicle recharge ports for visitors and staff using electric vehicles.
    •   Use biodiesel (100% or blends) or vegetable diesel in place of petrodiesel in vehicles.
    •   Install renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind generators.        System Size:      
    • Sign up for LADWPs Green Power Program
    •   Offset company’s vehicle CO2 emissions.  See www.driveneutral.org, www.carneutral.org, or www.terrapass.org.
    • Other:      

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