An ongoing challenge in the food industry is keeping food costs down without diminishing food quality. One of the keys to success is food waste prevention. Join national experts Dr. Steve Schein and Ned Barker to learn more about how to reduce food waste in your business, empower your employees, reduce your environmental impact and improve your bottom line.

Who Should Attend? The workshop provides skills and resources ideal for restaurant managers and chefs, catering sales directors, food & beverage directors, executive chefs, general managers — virtually anyone working in food service/culinary supervision or management.
Welcome! New Green Business Coordinator
The Green Business Leaders program is excited to welcome new Green Business Coordinator Jennifer Stefanick.

Jennifer comes from a background of waste reduction, recycling, and food waste prevention and donation through her vast work experience. She managed the Portland Event Recycling program, contributed to the Department of Environmental Quality's Oregon Food Study and spent 10 years as a pastry chef and sustainability coordinator for a Portland-based food production kitchen. Jennifer has a proven track record of facilitating the adoption of food scraps collection, coordinating food waste prevention and donation, and inspiring employees to recycle not only at work but also within their homes and communities. Jennifer has an environmental studies degree from Portland State University with a minor in sustainability and currently serves on the Board for the Association of Oregon Recyclers as membership chair. 
Tigard-Tualatin schools start composting
In partnership with the Green Business Leaders program, school cafeterias across the Tigard-Tualatin School District have started to collect food scraps for compost and green energy. Instead of going to the landfill, the food scraps are now collected separately and picked up by the schools' garbage collection company. The food scraps then go to an anaerobic digestion facility where the methane gas released by the decomposing food is captured and used to generate electricity that powers homes and businesses in Oregon. The food residue leftover is used by farmers and gardeners as a natural fertilizer.

The Tigard-Tualatin School District joins Hillsboro as the second district in Washington County to have all of its schools participating in a food scraps collection program. Their dedication to conserving natural resources benefits the environment and sets an excellent example for the young students who attend our Tigard and Tualatin schools.
Tired of your commute?
Westside Transportation Alliance's Commuter Kickbacks program is back with an upgrade! There are more prizes, new ways to up your odds of winning, and a multi-modal challenge coming in April 2019. To participate in Commuter Kickbacks, all you have to do is sign up with DriveLessConnect.com , log at least four alternative commutes per month, and live or work in Washington County!

Westside Transportation Alliance (WTA) is a nonprofit that works closely with public and private employers in Washington County, offering workplace services and programs that help employees commute to work without having to drive alone. When employers provide transportation options and benefits, they find that their employees are happier, healthier, and more productive. If you want to explore more commute options for your business, contact the WTA today!