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. 

 

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#.

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#.

Feeling Artsy This Weekend?

Shopping at The Green Project always sparks those creativity synopses. But if you are feeling particularly artsy this weekend, boy, are there two things to look forward to!

Stop by The ReUse District Art Yard and make your own sculptures and installations out of reused materials. Take a break from the New Orleans Fringe Fest theater scene, and wander over to The ReUse District Art Yard at The Fringe’s  Free-For-All Tent. The ReUse District will provide reused materials at the Art Yard to be transformed into sculptures of all kinds by YOU. Let your fellow theater-goers admire your creativity this weekend, and together we can show that reuse is limitless! A special thanks to The New Orleans Fringe Fest for this creative partnership and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Rebuilding Together New Orleans, and The Green Project for lending these materials.

 

Gear up for Draw-A-Thon, upstairs at The Green Project.The 4th annual Draw-A-Thon, organized by Press Street, is already upon us and our spooky upstairs space will be filled with 24 hours (yes, a full 24 hours) of drawing workshops. For a complete schedule, visit Press Street.

 

On a completely different note, The Green Project is thrilled to have had HBO's Treme film a scene at our warehouse. Way to stay local! Check out the behind-the-scenes and make sure to keep you eyes out for your friendly TGP staff this coming season.

Proclamation for The ReUse District

On November 4, 2010, The New Orleans City Council will issue a proclamation formaling declaring the 7^th Ward, Bywater, Marigny, St. Claude, and St. Roch neighborhoods The ReUse District of New Orleans and the first “reuse district” in the United States. As a founding member of The ReUse District, The Green Project is thrilled!

The ReUse District is an innovative collaborative nonprofit organization, which unites reuse organizations, small businesses, and artists in the 7^th Ward, Bywater, Marigny, St. Claude, and St. Roch neighborhoods of New Orleans. Operating similarly to an “arts district,” members of The ReUse District collectively promote reuse to the whole city and aim to make these five neighborhoods a centralized destination for reused materials. The ReUse District has over 20 members. A complete list of all of the members can be found at www.thereusedistrict.org.

Why reuse? Reuse is the most accessible and affordable form of waste reduction possible. It decreases the amount of unnecessary materials deposited into landfills and reduces the demand for manufactured goods—a significant source of green house gas emissions and natural resource consumption.

For more information about The ReUse District, contact Beth Stelson.

 

ReFest was a Success!

           

Thank you to all ReFest attendees who came out and showed their support for The ReUse District and reuse in New Orleans. Over 650 people braved the pouring rain to come to the creative reuse workshops, film screening, concert, and pub crawl. Want to ReLive ReFest? Check out our photos on The ReUse District's facebook page, including photos from the reuse carpentry workshop, film screening, and concert hosted by The Green Project.

Thank you also to our wonderfully enthusiastic volunteers and Jon Cleary, Mohican Scouts, and Slow Danger Brass Band for an incredible concert.

The ReUse District wishes to particularly thank all of our fantastic sponsors for making our kick-off event such a success.

        A-Okay Men's Wear                                               National Art and Hobby

        Antenna Gallery                                                   Mimi's in the Marigny

        Beth's Books                                                         The Mother-In-Law Lounge

        Buffalo Exchange                                                  New Orleans Habitat for Humanity ReStore

        Bywater Neighborhood Association                        Old New Orleans Rum

        Charitable Film Network                                       Orleans Parish Community District

        Dr. Bob Art                                                           Phoenix Recycling

        Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association           Preservation Resource Center

        Giant Octopus                                                      Press Street

        The Green Project                                                R.U.B.A.R.B.

        Hi-Ho Lounge                                                       Rebuilding Together New Orleans

        Lost Love Lounge                                                 Saturn Bar

        Trouser House