Young nonprofit finds success supporting local restaurants, reducing waste

Margot McNeeley had an idea to "green" the local restaurant scene in 2008 and needed a little help getting it off the ground. The Community Foundation was there with a $2,500 grant from Community Partnership Fund to help launch Project Green Fork, a nonprofit that works with local restaurants to reduce their environmental impact.

Three years later, Project Green Fork has certified 36 restaurants as meeting six criteria for environmental friendly operation and has become an advocate for local restaurants, locally grown food and local businesses. Project Green Fork estimates these restaurants have recycled:

• about 600,000 gallons of plastic, glass and aluminum
• nearly 300 tons of paper and cardboard
• 79,000 gallons of food waste