Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 6, June 2004

Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

Businesses honored for environmentally friendly practices

Two North Seattle businesses and the University of Washington's Facilities Services Department were recently honored as "green companies" for their environmentally friendly practices.

The third annual BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow) awards were given to 11 recipients from throughout the city on May 13 by The Resource Venture, a program of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities.

Wild Mountain Cafe in Crown Hill received a BEST award for "waste prevention and recycling." The cafe, located at 1408 NW 85th St., keeps approximately one ton of kitchen scraps and coffee grounds out of the garbage each year by using a commercial worm bin. They also participate in a pilot program in which plate scrapings are collected and hauled away for composting.

Lake City Florists in the Pinehurst neighborhood was named a co-winner (along with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) of a BEST award for "innovation." The shop, located at 11742 15th Ave. NE, gives customers who return extra vases and baskets a "Lake City Buck" good for merchandise at the store for up to a year. Lake City Florist also composts much of their floral scraps.

The UW's Facilities Services Department won a BEST award for water conservation.

Formed in 1990, The Resource Venture provides free environmental consulting services to Seattle-area businesses. It helps companies lower their utility costs, obtain rebates, comply with regulations and receive public recognition, all while protecting the environment.

* * *

For more detailed information about this year's BEST award winners' practices, visit

www.resourceventure.org/rv/services/awards-and-rec/best/2004-winners/index.php.