Cincinnati Businesses Go Green, Save Money

CINCINNATI -- People can help save the environment by dining and going out to a growing number of local restaurants and pubs in Cincinnati, local television news station WLWT News 5 reported.

City officials and business owners said there's a new push to recycle across the city.

"The experience so far has been tremendous," Mac's Pizza owner Mac Ryan said.

Businesses said recycling isn't just good for the Earth, it's also great for their bottom line.

"Recycling is cost neutral in most cases, and in some cases can be a cost savings because typical recycling is less than garbage service," said Holly Christmann, of Environmental Services.

Environmental Services provided some recycling bins and signs for the businesses, and complimentary coasters for customers.

"These coasters will get the bar patrons to think about recycling away from home," Christmann said.

Ryan said he had no idea how much waste from his business he could recycle.

"Everything we buy comes in cardboard boxes -- everything," Ryan said. "I had no idea how many items we can and do recycle here in the restaurant -- everything from the cans that our product comes in, bottles, everything else."

Since starting his recycling program, Ryan said he hasn't needed to call out for a truck to empty his Dumpster as often.

"We used to have it emptied five times a week. Now, it gets emptied once," Ryan said. "There's no reason why everyone who could be doing this shouldn't."

Officials said 10 bars and restaurants are on board.

In Northside, the Comet has been recycling for a year and managers said it saves them $30 per month.

"We want to promote to the rest of Hamilton County that these bars and restaurants are taking the extra step to help reduce reliance on landfills," Christmann said.

Ryan said he has already recycled about 10 tons in the first month of using the program.

The program's goal is to have 50 participants by June.