The Green Project

In honor of PARK(ing) Day: GREEN your Picnic

To celebrate World PARK(ing) Day, we are going to be parked (HA! punny!) right in front of Spruce on Magazine Street in the Green Light District. Since the eco-design team at Spruce are creating a lovely picnic area in the parking space directly in front of the eco- studio, we thought we'd contribute to the theme by posting some green picnic tips. If you're in the area tomorrow, stop by and see us! 

1. It’s all about the bag. Repurpose a reusable grocery store tote bag as a picnic bag or try an old-fashioned picnic basket.
2. Grab the grub. Organic food is better for the earth and the environment. Also buy food that’s grown locally to save on gas and support local farmers.
3. Pick your tools. Use reusable containers, dishware and utensils or at the very least use recycled, recyclable or biodegradable ones. After use, these supplies can be recycled or composted. Cloth napkins made from organic cotton are the most environmentally friendly option, but a good second bet is paper napkins made of 100% recyclable paper.
4. Location, location, location. Try picnic sites that you can get to by walking, hiking or taking public transportation. But if you must drive, carpool.
5. Clean it up. Be sure to take your waste with you - the garbage from your picnic is not a natural part of the picnic site. And don’t forget the recyclables. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. 

A few last tips

• Be sure to pack the sunscreen and bug repellent. The best green options will have all natural ingredients.
• Do not disturb the wildlife at your picnic site, or gather flowers and plants.
• Instead of purchasing plastic bottles of water, buy a collapsible water bag that you can fill up at home, keep it cold in a cooler, then fold it up and carry home empty.
• It can take up to 1,000 years for a plastic sandwich bag to biodegrade in a landfill. Instead, bring reusable tins and canisters or wrap the food in aluminum foil that you will recycle.
• Bring back any empty cans and bottles for recycling; crush them down to maximize space.
• Avoid the use of Styrofoam & straws whenever possible, as they endanger wildlife and are not biodegradable or recyclable. 

 

3rd Annual FREE WEEK!

For the third summer in a row, The Green Project is pratically giving stuff away! Wait, we actually ARE giving stuff away. Starting June 6 and running through Saturday, June 11th- we'll have an entire section of the warehouse for all the uber cool FREE STUFF available! What's the catch, you say? Well, you do have to be named Nermal and have a Febuary 29th birthday. Hold on....what's that? No, that can't possibly be! It says here EVERYONE gets to pull stuff from the Free section! No purchase necessary. REALLY? Yes, Really. Wow!! I. KNOW. It's pretty incredible. Of course our prices are so low anyway, you might find a few things you never knew you needed, but that's totally up to you. 

Why are we doing this? Well, we could use a good purge in the warehouse and we also want to honor the community that we serve and our loyal customers by sharing the wealth of materials that come in on a daily basis.

So....have an old "honey-do" project you've been slacking on? Been inspired recently to finally do that art piece that's been mulling around in your mind? Well, now's the time to visit us! Hundreds of items will be available. And all we ask is that you be kind to our friendly warehouse staff while you're loading up on our dime. We'll see you June 6th-11th! Make sure to spread the word, the more the merrier! 

 

For more info, please contact Phyllis: pjordan@thegreenproject.org

**Items will be marked and sectioned off, this special is applicable ONLY to those items. Trust us, you'll probably find more than you're looking for! 

Used Cooking Oil and Grease Drive as Member of the Month

The Green Project is The ReUse District's Member of the Month and will be hosting a used cooking oil and grease drive to promote the new collection program. Just a few months ago, The Green Project began  collecting used cooking oil and cooking grease at the warehouse to be used for biodiesel. The oil and grease is given to Operation REACH to be converted into biodiesel through its Gulf South Youth Biodiesel Project green job training program.

 

Biodiesel is a creative solution to the nation’s current energy crisis. Nearly 100% of cooking oil and grease can be recycled into biodiesel, which, once converted, provides a renewable, nontoxic, and clean-burning alternative to fossil fuels. In fact, biodiesel substantially reduces the amount of carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides and sulfates, and unburned hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere. Biodiesel also has added advantages for engines since it can be mixed with petroleum diesel to help engines run cleaner and longer. Want to learn more about biodiesel? Check out www.biodiesel.org.

 

The ReUse District is now specifically reaching out to restauarants as well as individuals in the downtown neighborhoods of New Orleans to increase grease donations. All donors will receive a tax receipt for the value of their donation, and participanting restaurants will receive their own promotion page on The ReUse District's website.

 

How to get involved? Start by collecting your old cooking oil and grease in a sealable container. When the container is full, bring it to a staff person at The Green Project between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Saturday. If you are producing a significant amount of oil, Operation Reach will be able to schedule a pick-up for you.

 

Have a few questions? Email Beth at bstelson@thegreenproject.org or give her a call at (504) 945-0240 ext. 2#.

Come Watch Garbage Dreams

What to do on your Thursday evening? Come join The Green Project and Charitable Film Network for the March Green Screen.

Garbage Dreams

(With FREE Food from Elizabeth's Restaurant in the Bywater)

Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 7pm

The Green Project Warehouse- 2831 Marais Street

Garbage Dreams documents how recycling is not a new invention. The Zaballeen community on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt has recycled for generations. Now their “trash trade” is threatened by modernized waste management techniques, which are less sustainable than their traditional process. Want a sneak peek? Watch the trailer HERE.

The Green Screen is always free and open to the public. Hope you can join us for this timely film! Contact Beth at bstelson@thegreenproject.org / (504) 945-0240 ext. 2# for more information.
 

Cooking Oil and Grease Collection Starting in March!

You know about recycling. You probably know a little bit about composting. But have you ever thought about recycling your old cooking oil and grease for biodiesel?

 

Starting in March, The Green Project will collect used cooking oil and cooking grease at its warehouse to be used for biodiesel. The oil and grease will be given to Operation REACH to be converted into biodiesel through its Gulf South Youth Biodiesel Project green job training program. In partnership with Operation REACH and The Green Project, The ReUse District will reach out to restaurants and residents in the downtown neighborhoods of New Orleans to encourage the collection of oil and grease and to educate the community about the benefits of this alternative fuel. 

 

Biodiesel is a creative solution to the nation’s current energy crisis. Nearly 100% of cooking oil and grease can be recycled into biodiesel, which, once converted, provides a renewable, nontoxic, and clean-burning alternative to fossil fuels. In fact, biodiesel substantially reduces the amount of carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides and sulfates, and unburned hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere. Biodiesel also has added advantages for engines since it can be mixed with petroleum diesel to help engines run cleaner and longer. Want to learn more about biodiesel? Check out www.biodiesel.org.

 

So how do I get involved? Start by collecting your old cooking oil and grease in a sealable container. When the container is full, bring it to The Green Project between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Saturday. A staff person can help you with a  tax receipt for the value of your donation. It's as simple as that.

 

Have a few questions? Email Beth at bstelson@thegreenproject.org or give her a call at (504) 945-0240 ex. 2#.

Join us for Mardi Gras: Made in China!

Mardi Gras may be our favorite holiday around these parts, but have you ever stopped to think about the environmental and human impact of this tradition? The repercussions of Mardi Gras extend far further than our city.

Discover the back story of Mardi Gras at our screening of Mardi Gras: Made in China on Thursday, February 17 at 7pm and learn how to recycle your beads with Margie Perez of the ARC’s bead recycling program. We will also be serving FREE FOOD from ELIZABETH'S RESTAURANT in the Bywater.

The Green Screen is a series produced by The Green Project and Charitable Film Network. Our films are always FREE and open to the public. Hope you can join us for the film!

What: Screening of Mardi Gras: Made in China + FREE food from Elizabeth's Restaurant

Where: The Green Project, 2831 Marais Street

When: Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7pm

Price: FREE (of course!)