As a direct result of our efforts in developing the world's first zero waste golf course. we are seeing positive change in our local community.
When I first pitched zero waste to our golf superintendent, Josh Heptig, I pointed out that there were no recycle containers on the entire golf course property. Josh explained to me how the maintenance staff sorted the waste stream behind the scenes. Seemed reasonable, and we went on to other topics of zero waste discussion.
One of our first major zero waste partners, Bill Worrell of San Luis Obispo County's Integrated Waste Management Authority, who donated our two vessel composters, looked around the county and realized that NONE of the other golf courses had adequate recycle containers. So, Bill Worrell applied for a $220,000 grant from CalRecycle, got the money and is purchasing all new containers for every course in the county. That's 200,000 examples of how simple actions inspire change.
When my two friends and I started our environmental club, our first project was to host the waste management at Morro Bay's 2008 Harbor Festival. We promoted zero waste by sorting out compostables, reusables and recyclables from the festival waste stream. We constructed ZerO Waste Stations constructing plywood panels into three sided towers which gave us signage opportunities around which to place the various containers. We hosted the stations to offer information and assistance with the festival crowds. Today, almost every major event in the county utilizes similar hosted zero waste stations. A local Eco-Rotary club has adopted zero waste event management as a pillar of their club constitution, and do dozens of events every year since they chartered their club.
Simple actions inspire change.
Every step along the way of developing the ZerO Waste Park at Dairy Creek has been a very easy one. We never really did much, except a little politicing, a little carpentry, a little digging, etc....but the results or our efforts are beginning to show themselves as greater than that which inspired them. It's very satisfying to see that ones simple local actions can really inspire greater change in our global community.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Zero waste is all about sorting.
In today's increasing environmental awareness, sorting our waste streams into recyclables, reusables, compostables (and some trash) is a skill we all strive to perfect in our quest for zero waste. It's the same at Dairy Creek Zero Waste Park, where we all work together to reduce the amount of contamination in the sorted catagories.
We have organized our clubhouse compost, recycle and trash recepticles and placed signage instructing golfers and course staff where to place the various items we expect to generate on site. Sometimes unspecified items come in from offsite or confused depositors put the wrong items in the wrong can. That's OK, When we empty the cans, we sort again to fish recyclables out of the trash can, and trash or compost out of the recyclables.
The food waste is often contaminated as well. What we encounter in the food wastes we get from the kitchen is plastic wraps, straws, rubber gloves, aluminum foil and little plastic dipping sauce cups. We fish the plastic out of the food wastes as we load it into the compost vessel. Sometimes we miss some plastic and we just keep picking it out of the composter or finally, out of the finished compost before it's used on the course.
Sorting and processing is what we're all tasked to do, whether at work or at home. No longer can we leave it all up to someone else to unwrap the stinking sandwich from the plastic wrap before we throw it in the trash. Take a minute and unwrap it and throw the plastic in the reclycler and the sandwich in the compost, OK? If we really care about the local or global environment, we should all take a minute more to sort or process any waste products with which we come into contact.
In our municipality, we have special material recovery facilities at the landfill site that have expert workers and automated sorting technologies to recover all recyclables. I always tell visitors to the zero waste park that when there's a question as to whether something is recyclable or not, put it in the recycle bin because the experts and machines have the last look.
Please sort responsibly.
We have organized our clubhouse compost, recycle and trash recepticles and placed signage instructing golfers and course staff where to place the various items we expect to generate on site. Sometimes unspecified items come in from offsite or confused depositors put the wrong items in the wrong can. That's OK, When we empty the cans, we sort again to fish recyclables out of the trash can, and trash or compost out of the recyclables.
The food waste is often contaminated as well. What we encounter in the food wastes we get from the kitchen is plastic wraps, straws, rubber gloves, aluminum foil and little plastic dipping sauce cups. We fish the plastic out of the food wastes as we load it into the compost vessel. Sometimes we miss some plastic and we just keep picking it out of the composter or finally, out of the finished compost before it's used on the course.
Sorting and processing is what we're all tasked to do, whether at work or at home. No longer can we leave it all up to someone else to unwrap the stinking sandwich from the plastic wrap before we throw it in the trash. Take a minute and unwrap it and throw the plastic in the reclycler and the sandwich in the compost, OK? If we really care about the local or global environment, we should all take a minute more to sort or process any waste products with which we come into contact.
In our municipality, we have special material recovery facilities at the landfill site that have expert workers and automated sorting technologies to recover all recyclables. I always tell visitors to the zero waste park that when there's a question as to whether something is recyclable or not, put it in the recycle bin because the experts and machines have the last look.
Please sort responsibly.
Friday, July 13, 2012
ZerO Waste and golf were simply made for each other
I was at an Eco-Rotary meeting in Morro Bay last night where the main topic of discussion was planning another zero waste park at Morro Bay Golf Course. Morro Bay Eco-Rotary is a club that has really advanced the zero waste message. In the past year they have managed the waste at every significant local event, from harbor festival to Car Show. In this second year they are already committed for every weekend to do the zero waste thing at events. Because of their efforts in the past year, most regional public gatherings are making the effort to seperate and manage their waste streams.
Eco-Rotarians sort event wastes into 4 catagories: recycle, compost, liquid, and trash (although in an attempt to finish the event with an empty trash container, they also advise event planners about percycle strategies to prevent trash wastes before they occur) They're composting the event food and organic wastes in their own compost operation, but they really don't have the room or proper equipment to do the job effeciently since theier waste management services have become so popular.
I was happy to learn that MB Eco-Rotary was planning on moving their community zero waste services headquarters to our second zero waste golf course compost facility to be located at Morro Bay Golf Course, which is another San Luis Obispo County managed course, under the direction of superintendent Josh Heptig. Eco-Rotary has also prototyped a residential compost club where area residents can bring their weekly food scraps to contribute in the diversion of organics to the land fill. The new MBGC zero waste facility will attract environmentally sensitive groups and individuals to the course. It will become a community center for composting and zero waste demonstrations and information. What a wonderful way to bring the public to the golf course. What a great way to offer additional public services from an existing facility.
One of the best aspects of combining golf courses and zero waste is the fact that golf courses can benefit so greatly from the compost products that are generated. It's a natural balance....a golf course can easily absorb more compost than they can produce from their own organic waste stream and the public need access to a regional facility for composting, recycling and environmental education. No Better place than the golf course for the land and the people to come together to protect the local and global environment.
Eco-Rotarians sort event wastes into 4 catagories: recycle, compost, liquid, and trash (although in an attempt to finish the event with an empty trash container, they also advise event planners about percycle strategies to prevent trash wastes before they occur) They're composting the event food and organic wastes in their own compost operation, but they really don't have the room or proper equipment to do the job effeciently since theier waste management services have become so popular.
I was happy to learn that MB Eco-Rotary was planning on moving their community zero waste services headquarters to our second zero waste golf course compost facility to be located at Morro Bay Golf Course, which is another San Luis Obispo County managed course, under the direction of superintendent Josh Heptig. Eco-Rotary has also prototyped a residential compost club where area residents can bring their weekly food scraps to contribute in the diversion of organics to the land fill. The new MBGC zero waste facility will attract environmentally sensitive groups and individuals to the course. It will become a community center for composting and zero waste demonstrations and information. What a wonderful way to bring the public to the golf course. What a great way to offer additional public services from an existing facility.
One of the best aspects of combining golf courses and zero waste is the fact that golf courses can benefit so greatly from the compost products that are generated. It's a natural balance....a golf course can easily absorb more compost than they can produce from their own organic waste stream and the public need access to a regional facility for composting, recycling and environmental education. No Better place than the golf course for the land and the people to come together to protect the local and global environment.
Monday, July 9, 2012
What good are international golf course environmental certifications?
I stayed 4 days at an Audubon Certified Palm Springs golf resort. The place had swans, black and white, real pink flamingos and a gaggle of Canada geese swimming and posing in all the artistically produced water hazards. When we got to the 8th hole one day, the course maintenance guys were trying to herd or harrass a large group of birds by dive bombing them with remote control airplanes and a flying boat device. How lovely. How environmentally sensitive.
Because of my experience with zero waste golf, I look around to see how public facilities manage their waste stream. One thing I see in most golf courses is a lack of recycle containers on the course or around the clubhouse or resort. That was the case where I stayed in Palm Springs. While there may have been some seperating going on behind the scenes, there was no opportunity for guests and players to contribute to the effort. The weather every day we were there was over 105 degrees F so everybody in then resort was continually hydrating so we were all producing a lot of drink containers. No place but the trash can to place the empties.
The question I have is, " What good are international golf course environmental certifications such as Audubon or GEO if the course management doesn't make an obvious attempt to live up to the reciprocal responsibilities that come with the certification?". The answer I have is, "These international certifying organizations don't seem to care what is going on at the local level as long as the course continues to pay the money to renew the certificate every few years.
I'm an advocate for golf courses promoting and demonstrating local solutions for global problems. As an example, if we want to reduce greenhouse gasses in the global atmosphere, we need to reduce the potentials for harmful gasses to be released into the atmosphere. That's something that has to be done on a local, individual level. No employee from the international certifying organization is going to fly out to sort recyclables out of the dumpster because there was no recycle container for customers to place their empties.
I doubt that international environmental certification help market a course's reputation for environmental sensitivity. I suspect that most golfers don't even think about a courses environmental practices. Every golfer I talked to during the four days I spent in Palm Springs was talking about going on line to shop for the best daily greens fee deals. I'm sure I'd have a lot more readers if I wrote a blog about where to get the cheapest golf deals.
Because of my experience with zero waste golf, I look around to see how public facilities manage their waste stream. One thing I see in most golf courses is a lack of recycle containers on the course or around the clubhouse or resort. That was the case where I stayed in Palm Springs. While there may have been some seperating going on behind the scenes, there was no opportunity for guests and players to contribute to the effort. The weather every day we were there was over 105 degrees F so everybody in then resort was continually hydrating so we were all producing a lot of drink containers. No place but the trash can to place the empties.
The question I have is, " What good are international golf course environmental certifications such as Audubon or GEO if the course management doesn't make an obvious attempt to live up to the reciprocal responsibilities that come with the certification?". The answer I have is, "These international certifying organizations don't seem to care what is going on at the local level as long as the course continues to pay the money to renew the certificate every few years.
I'm an advocate for golf courses promoting and demonstrating local solutions for global problems. As an example, if we want to reduce greenhouse gasses in the global atmosphere, we need to reduce the potentials for harmful gasses to be released into the atmosphere. That's something that has to be done on a local, individual level. No employee from the international certifying organization is going to fly out to sort recyclables out of the dumpster because there was no recycle container for customers to place their empties.
I doubt that international environmental certification help market a course's reputation for environmental sensitivity. I suspect that most golfers don't even think about a courses environmental practices. Every golfer I talked to during the four days I spent in Palm Springs was talking about going on line to shop for the best daily greens fee deals. I'm sure I'd have a lot more readers if I wrote a blog about where to get the cheapest golf deals.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
The best golf superintendent in the world
I work with the best golf superintendent in the world. Well, you may ask...what makes this county golf boss the best golf superintendent in the world?
Even though Josh Heptig is responsible for the course conditions on three municipal courses in different microclimate zones, he doesn't sweat it because, coincidentally, we also have the best greenskeepers in the world maintaining the courses in pristine conditions year round.
But seriously, what makes these guys the best at what they do? They are on the cutting edge of the greatest change to the environmental profile of the golf industry in the history of the game. Don't make me bore you with a long list of details, but it's clear to us already that our zero waste golf park project is gaining real traction with the new breed of environmentally aware golf professionals worldwide. Zero waste just fits golf course operations like a glove...and because of the leadership of Heptig and greens crew at Dairy Creek, it's suddenly the obvious answer to local actions that benefit the environment and the bottom line.
Josh often tells people that the greatest surprise revealed as a result of establishing the zero waste park at Dairy Creek is how the zero waste initiative has attracted diverse partners within the community to come together on golf course grounds to promote environmental education and awareness in the community at large. What a great way to reach out to the community's non golfers who may just need a nudge to become our future golfers and paying customers.
These guys don't have a fat budget or a lot of employees with which to operate San Luis Obispo county golf courses. At Dairy Creek, only 5 guys do it all, seven days a week. They don't have membership money like private clubs do, or an opportunity for freewheeling entrepreneurial risk taking. It's the tightest budget conditions you can imagine, and yet these guys are changing the face of modern golf course management on a shoestring. If these guys can afford to operate a zero waste operation on their government budget, then it's obvious that every other golf course in the world can't afford not to.
Josh Heptig is the best golf superintendent in the world because he has inspired his staff and community associates to pioneer the new global standard for golf environmentalism.
If your golf superintendent can compete for "best superintendent in the world" honors, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Even though Josh Heptig is responsible for the course conditions on three municipal courses in different microclimate zones, he doesn't sweat it because, coincidentally, we also have the best greenskeepers in the world maintaining the courses in pristine conditions year round.
But seriously, what makes these guys the best at what they do? They are on the cutting edge of the greatest change to the environmental profile of the golf industry in the history of the game. Don't make me bore you with a long list of details, but it's clear to us already that our zero waste golf park project is gaining real traction with the new breed of environmentally aware golf professionals worldwide. Zero waste just fits golf course operations like a glove...and because of the leadership of Heptig and greens crew at Dairy Creek, it's suddenly the obvious answer to local actions that benefit the environment and the bottom line.
Josh often tells people that the greatest surprise revealed as a result of establishing the zero waste park at Dairy Creek is how the zero waste initiative has attracted diverse partners within the community to come together on golf course grounds to promote environmental education and awareness in the community at large. What a great way to reach out to the community's non golfers who may just need a nudge to become our future golfers and paying customers.
These guys don't have a fat budget or a lot of employees with which to operate San Luis Obispo county golf courses. At Dairy Creek, only 5 guys do it all, seven days a week. They don't have membership money like private clubs do, or an opportunity for freewheeling entrepreneurial risk taking. It's the tightest budget conditions you can imagine, and yet these guys are changing the face of modern golf course management on a shoestring. If these guys can afford to operate a zero waste operation on their government budget, then it's obvious that every other golf course in the world can't afford not to.
Josh Heptig is the best golf superintendent in the world because he has inspired his staff and community associates to pioneer the new global standard for golf environmentalism.
If your golf superintendent can compete for "best superintendent in the world" honors, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Zero Waste Webinar coming soon
We have decided it's time to produce our first zero waste webinar. We'll explain our process in detail for those of you who may be interested.
We'll make some instructional videos regarding the vessel composting, worm farming, and compost tea brewing. We'll also show how we transport the food wastes from kitchen to composter.
It's so simple it's a joke. But zero waste is no joke, really... Most important from my perspective is the food and green waste composting. We diverted and composted approximately one ton of food and green wastes per month last year. That means that we prevented approximately 6000 cubic meters of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere each month.
That's right, one metric ton of food waste, when landfilled, produces 300 cubic meters of methane gas which is 20 times more harmful to the atmosphere than is CO2. Do the math...300X20=6000.
If we divert one ton of food waste per month from our small food concession, think about how much food and green waste you are producing at your course, restaurant or home. Save our environment and start composting!
We'll make some instructional videos regarding the vessel composting, worm farming, and compost tea brewing. We'll also show how we transport the food wastes from kitchen to composter.
It's so simple it's a joke. But zero waste is no joke, really... Most important from my perspective is the food and green waste composting. We diverted and composted approximately one ton of food and green wastes per month last year. That means that we prevented approximately 6000 cubic meters of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere each month.
That's right, one metric ton of food waste, when landfilled, produces 300 cubic meters of methane gas which is 20 times more harmful to the atmosphere than is CO2. Do the math...300X20=6000.
If we divert one ton of food waste per month from our small food concession, think about how much food and green waste you are producing at your course, restaurant or home. Save our environment and start composting!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
So this is environmental leadership?
We hear so much lip service about "sustainability, ecological awareness and environmental protection", but where is the real leadership? Leadership is not a sport of restating the obvious while the problems remain unchanged. No, leadership is about inspiring change.
One thing about the Zero Waste Park at Dairy Creek Golf Course is that it is inspiring real change in our county. The greatest change that we see is a growth in the awareness of zero waste as a principle for action in our everyday lives. The term "Zero Waste" trumps all other environmental catch phrases. Every environmental protection action possible falls under the umbrella of zero waste.
In the past 2 years since we began promoting zero waste in our county, there have been several local groups that have formed specifically to help raise zero waste awareness. A group of Rotarians in Morro Bay have pioneered an Eco-Rotary group whose members volunteer to process the trash at almost every large festival or event. They set up and host waste sorting stations around the events and then the hosts discuss zero waste strategies with the event goers as they present their party wastes for sorting. As a result of Eco-Rotarian actions, more and more local event planners are prioritizing zero waste as a signature part of their environmental stance.
The zero waste park is located at a county municipal golf facility, which many of you know. One thing that the county has realized through their partnership in the project is the value of doubling up on the utility of facilities that are already in place. We don't need a new piece of land upon which to provide services to our constituents. We can use a place we already own and maintain. Along this line, our golf superintendent Josh Heptig, has offered what is basically free land at Dairy Creek upon which to construct a permanent facility for junior golf and environmental awareness at Dairy Creek. The First Tee and Autobon International as well as our local integrated waste management authority are already making commitments to participate.
I could go on, but you get the picture.
This is environmental leadership.
One thing about the Zero Waste Park at Dairy Creek Golf Course is that it is inspiring real change in our county. The greatest change that we see is a growth in the awareness of zero waste as a principle for action in our everyday lives. The term "Zero Waste" trumps all other environmental catch phrases. Every environmental protection action possible falls under the umbrella of zero waste.
In the past 2 years since we began promoting zero waste in our county, there have been several local groups that have formed specifically to help raise zero waste awareness. A group of Rotarians in Morro Bay have pioneered an Eco-Rotary group whose members volunteer to process the trash at almost every large festival or event. They set up and host waste sorting stations around the events and then the hosts discuss zero waste strategies with the event goers as they present their party wastes for sorting. As a result of Eco-Rotarian actions, more and more local event planners are prioritizing zero waste as a signature part of their environmental stance.
The zero waste park is located at a county municipal golf facility, which many of you know. One thing that the county has realized through their partnership in the project is the value of doubling up on the utility of facilities that are already in place. We don't need a new piece of land upon which to provide services to our constituents. We can use a place we already own and maintain. Along this line, our golf superintendent Josh Heptig, has offered what is basically free land at Dairy Creek upon which to construct a permanent facility for junior golf and environmental awareness at Dairy Creek. The First Tee and Autobon International as well as our local integrated waste management authority are already making commitments to participate.
I could go on, but you get the picture.
This is environmental leadership.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Zero Waste partners are coming together
Dairy Creek's zero waste park is running smoothly. We compost all the restaurant food wastes, grass clippings, cardboard and wood chips on a daily basis. We're brewing compost tea every week and testing the tea for optimal microbial population with Cal Poly University and the Soil Food Web Institute and with funding from USGA. We're teaming up with First Tee and our county waste management authority to apply for some grants to build a permanent demonstration facility to introduce school students to zero waste strategies for school and home. Oh, and while they're on site, we'll put clubs in their hands and give them some basic golf instruction.
See, we think we can grow the game of golf and payable rounds when we introduce children to the fun of the game. We believe the kids will come back to the course and bring a parent with them. We also believe that the best way to change the way we handle trash and wastes is to educate the next generation.
All in all, it's the local partnerships as well as support from the golf industry that really get our engines running. When so many good people and organizations are this eager to join the effort, that's got to be a good sign for the future of zero waste golf...don't you agree?
See, we think we can grow the game of golf and payable rounds when we introduce children to the fun of the game. We believe the kids will come back to the course and bring a parent with them. We also believe that the best way to change the way we handle trash and wastes is to educate the next generation.
All in all, it's the local partnerships as well as support from the golf industry that really get our engines running. When so many good people and organizations are this eager to join the effort, that's got to be a good sign for the future of zero waste golf...don't you agree?
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