Collection corner

Extra efforts

For fast-casual restaurant chain BurgerFi, headquartered in North Palm Beach, Florida, quality is not only the goal for its burgers and sauces but also for its overall restaurant design.

BurgerFi opened its doors in 2011 in response to “the dissatisfaction with what was happening in the burger market at the time,” the chain states on its website, www.burgerfi.com. The company “made a commitment to sustainability as part of its standard business practices,” and as a result has recycled more than 1 million pounds of used peanut oil into biodiesel fuel each year, among numerous other environmentally friendly steps.

“We’re always trying to lessen the footprint we leave on the earth. Each location is built according to best practices and include earth-friendly elements,” BurgerFi says. From tables made of wood pallets to stringent recycling programs for cardboard, bottles, cans and oil, BurgerFi says it is committed to sustainability.

Creative contest

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and Orlando, Florida-based Ripley Entertainment wants to see your artwork made from recycled, everyday objects. Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Unbelievable RipCycle Art Contest challenges and invites artists to create artwork from metals, aluminum cans, cardboard, toilet paper, coffee filters, staples, toothpicks and any other items that could be recycled or thrown away.

“We’re out to find amazing pieces, especially three-dimensional sculptures … The more unusual the medium used, the better,” says Edward Meyer, Ripley vice president of exhibits and archives.

The top-five winners will take home cash prizes in addition to other perks. The grand prize winner will be featured in the next edition of Ripley’s annual book.

For contest rules and other relative details, visit www.ripleys.com/RipCycle.

Schooling sustainability

Dunbarton High School in Pickering, Ontario, was named the 2015 Greenest School on Earth by the Global Coalition for Green Schools, an initiative of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The competition highlights a K-12 school that exemplifies how sustainability can be integrated into the infrastructure, culture and curriculum of a school.

The Center for Green Schools defines a green school as one that achieves zero environmental impact, a positive impact on occupant health and performance and 100 percent environmentally literate graduates.

Built in the 1960s, Dunbarton High School has undergone a significant retrofit over the past five years, installing new energy-efficient windows, insulation and lower wattage lighting.

The school offers a Specialist in High Skills Major in Environment and engages students through coursework and extracurricular activities related to the school’s natural surroundings.

Do you have a unique recycling-focused story? Please send a press release to Megan Workman at mworkman@gie.net.