Angelo’s Caffe played host to an Oak Harbor Public Works open house for downtown restaurants. The meeting is part of the city’s effort to educate local business owners about the proper way to dispose of their trash, grease and recyclables.

“Accidents happen. We just want to make sure it’s cleaned up properly.” said Public Works Operation Manager Steve Bebee. “We can help with that.”

Bebee said that in most cases, Public Works will help with cleaning up grease spills free of charge. But if the spills are reoccurring, or negligence is obvious, there may be a fee for the clean-up.

“We can’t absorb all the costs, but we’ll do our best to help you out,” he told the small crowd of restaurant owners at the meeting.

“I understand getting rid of this stuff. It’s expensive.”

Education is key, Bebee said.

“There’s a lot of places that throw mop water into the parking lot,” he said. This is problematic because the water flows into storm drains and into the harbor without being treated.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s employees. They’re young, and they just don’t know,” he said, stressing the importance of communication between owner and employees.

Recycling is also an important step that businesses should take, he said.

“Every business is now entitled to a 65 or 95-gallon recycling roll cart for free,” he said of businesses that have dumpster garbage pick-up.

Rhonda Haines, the utility services coordinator for Oak Harbor Water Division, spoke to the crowd about being water-wise. The city will work with businesses to check for leaks through an audit, she said.

“If you have a leak, get it fixed,” she advised, warning that even small leaks can add up to unnecessarily big water bills.

Posting signs to report leaks and educating everyone about smart water usage in bathrooms, kitchens and other areas where water is frequently used, can put customers and employees on alert for leaks.

The city’s environmental educator, Maribeth Crandell, brought examples of bags and cups made from corn products. These alternatives can decompose unlike similar products made from plastic, she said.

“Plastics don’t decompose. They break down into smaller and smaller bits but they never go away.”

Crandell also announced the Waste Wise Holiday campaign, a concept designed to reduced garbage output during the holiday months

“Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Americans throw away 25 percent more garbage,” she said, inviting businesses to offer “experiences” instead of stuff for a discounted price.

“Restaurants are a perfect fit for a Waste Wise holiday,” she said, “Who wouldn’t appreciate a dinner for two during the hectic holiday season?”

By properly disposing of waste, recycling, watching for leaks and employing the use of recyclable cups and compostable take-out containers, downtown restaurants are going green one step at a time. And with their participation in the Waste Wise Holiday campaign, hopefully they’ll help the the community reduce a little of their extra holiday trash, too.

Businesses that are interested in the Waste Wise Holiday program may contact Maribeth Crandell at 279-4762. Participating businesses will be listed in a Waste Wise Holiday directory brochure.

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