Dickson Street businesses go green
Niketa Reed
Issue date: 9/12/08 Section: Life & Style
Anything a local business can do to contribute to Fayetteville's sustainability is wonderful, she said.
McSpadden named three Dickson Street restaurants that use local and organic ingredients: Smilin' Jacks, the 36 Club Bistro and Bordino's.
In addition to businesses adopting energy efficient practices and promotions, the Green Heart Initiative has set its focus on downtown Fayetteville.
The initiative, coordinated by Fayetteville mayoral candidate Walt Eilers and UA graduate and waste stream reduction specialist Aaron Stahl, is a voluntary project to test commercial recycling in downtown Fayetteville.
"I approached four local business leaders: Julie Sill of Common Grounds and Hog Haus, Dave Moser of Brewski's, Brandon Karn of Jammin' Java and Lisa Sharp of Nightbird Books," Eilers said. "They talked with their neighbors and friends to identify potential participants along Dickson Street and around the Fayetteville Square and Mill District. In the end, we signed up 52 local businesses and organizations."
Under the initiative, pubs like Brewski's were able to recycle beer bottles and other commercial waste in a collective and more feasible manner.
"Establishing a simple process of 'single stream' recycling helped interested business leaders participate without making exceptional efforts," Eilers said. "Previously, those who were independently recycling spent about four hours each week taking their recycling to the collection point on 15th Street.
"[A] continuing challenge involves recycling mixed glass. It has a very low value at the nearest mill in Okmulgee, Okla.," he said. "The concern is for the carbon footprint impact of transporting low value recyclable material seven hours away. Roll Off Services is nearing a solution with a local glass crushing operation to use the ground glass for street, sidewalk and trail beds."
The initiative, which is a pilot project running from May 3rd to October 31st, inspired an idea that Eilers would like to expound upon with UA students.
"I'd like to close Dickson Street to vehicular traffic one Saturday a month as a pilot to encourage street food vendors and activities so students who are not legally able to drink can have a place to hang out with their friends," he said. "My idea is to give Dickson Street an atmosphere like Sixth Street in Austin, Bourbon Street in New Orleans or Beale Street in Memphis. This would be especially important after sporting events so we could all celebrate together," he said.
As a candidate, Eilers said he has already met with Chancellor David Gearhart and his cabinet to discuss three initiatives that would involve shopping in Fayetteville with campus IDs, a certification program for rental properties and students who want to live off campus, and a partnership between the Walton Arts Center and the university.
McSpadden named three Dickson Street restaurants that use local and organic ingredients: Smilin' Jacks, the 36 Club Bistro and Bordino's.
In addition to businesses adopting energy efficient practices and promotions, the Green Heart Initiative has set its focus on downtown Fayetteville.
The initiative, coordinated by Fayetteville mayoral candidate Walt Eilers and UA graduate and waste stream reduction specialist Aaron Stahl, is a voluntary project to test commercial recycling in downtown Fayetteville.
"I approached four local business leaders: Julie Sill of Common Grounds and Hog Haus, Dave Moser of Brewski's, Brandon Karn of Jammin' Java and Lisa Sharp of Nightbird Books," Eilers said. "They talked with their neighbors and friends to identify potential participants along Dickson Street and around the Fayetteville Square and Mill District. In the end, we signed up 52 local businesses and organizations."
Under the initiative, pubs like Brewski's were able to recycle beer bottles and other commercial waste in a collective and more feasible manner.
"Establishing a simple process of 'single stream' recycling helped interested business leaders participate without making exceptional efforts," Eilers said. "Previously, those who were independently recycling spent about four hours each week taking their recycling to the collection point on 15th Street.
"[A] continuing challenge involves recycling mixed glass. It has a very low value at the nearest mill in Okmulgee, Okla.," he said. "The concern is for the carbon footprint impact of transporting low value recyclable material seven hours away. Roll Off Services is nearing a solution with a local glass crushing operation to use the ground glass for street, sidewalk and trail beds."
The initiative, which is a pilot project running from May 3rd to October 31st, inspired an idea that Eilers would like to expound upon with UA students.
"I'd like to close Dickson Street to vehicular traffic one Saturday a month as a pilot to encourage street food vendors and activities so students who are not legally able to drink can have a place to hang out with their friends," he said. "My idea is to give Dickson Street an atmosphere like Sixth Street in Austin, Bourbon Street in New Orleans or Beale Street in Memphis. This would be especially important after sporting events so we could all celebrate together," he said.
As a candidate, Eilers said he has already met with Chancellor David Gearhart and his cabinet to discuss three initiatives that would involve shopping in Fayetteville with campus IDs, a certification program for rental properties and students who want to live off campus, and a partnership between the Walton Arts Center and the university.
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