Restaurant Recycling: Dos and Don'ts

Barr Mansion Artisan Ballroom in Austin, Texas, is a 3 Star Certified Green Restaurant that managed to reach a nearly zero-waste status. They reached this accelerated level of environmental sustainability because they have solid methods in place for making green practices – ones that can be applied to any restaurant environment - a reality. 

Barr Mansion is a hotspot for weddings, luncheons, parties and other events. The facility caters to about 1,600 guests per month, leaving them with an enormous opportunity to create waste. To avoid confusion and regulate the process of recycling and composting most of the material that goes in and out of the facility, Barr Mansion works closely with staff to make sure proper training and explanation is available to them.

The operation’s key to success is the training and signage it has created. Composting buckets are clearly labeled, making the sorting process simple for staff as they bus tables of 10 at weddings or clear buffet stations after a luncheon.

Here’s an example of some language from their recycling signage that helps staff understand the process:

In 30 days, they were able to cut their waste by 98%. Soon, they were able to downgrade their 8-yard dumpster to a 4-yard one, and eventually get rid of it all together.

Barr Mansion’s success story shows that with proper education, signage, and understanding, change is not only possible; it can be quite simple, too.