Eco Friendly

BURBANK — The Burbank Green Alliance gathered 130 area businesses and organizations Wednesday at the Buena Vista Library to share eco-friendly solutions and start an industry-wide discussion on how to keep their food service lean and green. “This is the latest part of the city’s 2008 Sustainability Action Plan. We’re trying to start a discussion with local businesses so we can reach near-zero waste in a few years,” said Kreigh Hempel, recycling coordinator for the city of Burbank and member of the Green Alliance.

BURBANK — The Burbank Green Alliance gathered 130 area businesses and organizations Wednesday at the Buena Vista Library to share eco-friendly solutions and start an industry-wide discussion on how to keep their food service lean and green. “This is the latest part of the city’s 2008 Sustainability Action Plan. We’re trying to start a discussion with local businesses so we can reach near-zero waste in a few years,” said Kreigh Hempel, recycling coordinator for the city of Burbank and member of the Green Alliance.

BURBANK — The City Council’s goals for the fiscal year that starts Tuesday will have an overarching theme of sustainability. The council has decided to take on several measures to cut back on water usage, which will include tree planting, eco-friendly transportation and water conservation. The moves were necessary given the recent shortages in water supply and deliveries. The city’s goals were discussed at the council’s Tuesday meeting and were initially decided upon at the council’s annual workshop in early May. “The goals are visionary.

Experts on topics from sustainable product design to reducing waste going to California landfills will be part of a series of lectures sponsored by the Burbank Redevelopment Agency and the Burbank Green Alliance. Starting tonight and running every Wednesday for three weeks, the lectures steer clear of just touting job sectors expected to grow or the wonders of sustainability. Instead, they focus on practical advice for business managers, people in the food service industry and others.

In a neighborhood full of lawns, Jeena and Eric Schoenke?s front yard stands as an anomaly. The Burbank residents tore out their front lawn and redesigned the space about a year ago. They poured a patio, created a path, brought in several large boulders and planted California native plants. The yard features many native flowers ? Baja snap dragons, tiger lilies and varieties of poppies, penstemon and sage ? which are in full bloom. Every plant in the front yard aside from one tree is native, Jeena Schoenke said.

Among the signs advertising two-hour dry cleaning service and tailoring on the outside of Milt & Edie’s Dry Cleaners is a slogan, “If we were any more environmentally friendly, we’d be beating your clothes on a rock.” Since opening its doors 20 years ago, owners Milt Chortkoff and his nephew Michael Shader have found ways to make their dry-cleaning business more eco-friendly. A month ago, Chortkoff and Shader unveiled their newest addition: using biodegradable poly bags to cover garments.

Home care business opens first franchise in the city Spectrum Home Services has opened a franchise in Burbank. The company offers house cleaning, yard care as well as repair and senior care services. The company has offices nationwide, including a location in Beverly Hills. Sherry Beamer, a 10-year Burbank resident and an experienced social work administrator, owns and operates the Burbank franchise. Beamer is also involved in local community groups such as Jordan Middle School?

In tough economic times, a city sometimes needs to choose between two pressing concerns. That’s the situation Burbank is facing now, as its City Council considers ways to eliminate plastic bags and Styrofoam in the city. If the city ends up adopting a ban — still a distant possibility at this stage — it may benefit the environment immensely by removing a top pollutant from trash cans, sidewalks and landfills. But it may have a negative impact on the business climate in the city.

Experts on topics from sustainable product design to reducing waste going to California landfills will be part of a series of lectures sponsored by the Burbank Redevelopment Agency and the Burbank Green Alliance. Starting tonight and running every Wednesday for three weeks, the lectures steer clear of just touting job sectors expected to grow or the wonders of sustainability. Instead, they focus on practical advice for business managers, people in the food service industry and others.

In a neighborhood full of lawns, Jeena and Eric Schoenke?s front yard stands as an anomaly. The Burbank residents tore out their front lawn and redesigned the space about a year ago. They poured a patio, created a path, brought in several large boulders and planted California native plants. The yard features many native flowers ? Baja snap dragons, tiger lilies and varieties of poppies, penstemon and sage ? which are in full bloom. Every plant in the front yard aside from one tree is native, Jeena Schoenke said.

BURBANK — The Burbank Green Alliance gathered 130 area businesses and organizations Wednesday at the Buena Vista Library to share eco-friendly solutions and start an industry-wide discussion on how to keep their food service lean and green. “This is the latest part of the city’s 2008 Sustainability Action Plan. We’re trying to start a discussion with local businesses so we can reach near-zero waste in a few years,” said Kreigh Hempel, recycling coordinator for the city of Burbank and member of the Green Alliance.

BURBANK — The Burbank Green Alliance gathered 130 area businesses and organizations Wednesday at the Buena Vista Library to share eco-friendly solutions and start an industry-wide discussion on how to keep their food service lean and green. “This is the latest part of the city’s 2008 Sustainability Action Plan. We’re trying to start a discussion with local businesses so we can reach near-zero waste in a few years,” said Kreigh Hempel, recycling coordinator for the city of Burbank and member of the Green Alliance.

Among the signs advertising two-hour dry cleaning service and tailoring on the outside of Milt & Edie’s Dry Cleaners is a slogan, “If we were any more environmentally friendly, we’d be beating your clothes on a rock.” Since opening its doors 20 years ago, owners Milt Chortkoff and his nephew Michael Shader have found ways to make their dry-cleaning business more eco-friendly. A month ago, Chortkoff and Shader unveiled their newest addition: using biodegradable poly bags to cover garments.

BURBANK — The City Council’s goals for the fiscal year that starts Tuesday will have an overarching theme of sustainability. The council has decided to take on several measures to cut back on water usage, which will include tree-planting, eco-friendly transportation and water conservation. The moves were necessary given the recent shortages in water supply and deliveries. The city’s goals were discussed at the council’s Tuesday meeting and were initially decided upon at the council’s annual workshop in early May. “The goals are visionary . .