Going Green Makes Cents for Northwest Businesses

Originally published in The Tribune June 11, 2009
By Jill McCartney, President/CEO The Northwest Chamber

What does it mean to “Go Green”? When the movement started several years ago, the ideas involved no motor vehicles, no use of paper, dietary restrictions, and other policies that made everyday life both extraordinarily expensive and miserable.

This Thursday, June 11, local businesses will have the opportunity to learn more about how it saves cents and makes sense to go green at the Northwest Chamber Luncheon. Small business representative from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Dianne Wilkins, will talk about ways to make our businesses more profitable by becoming less wasteful, more sustainable and efficient.

“Improving your company’s environmental performance is good for business. Waste indicates inefficiency: the more waste your business produces, the less efficient it is. Greening your company’s operations makes them more efficient,” said Dianne Wilkins, Environmental Programs Manager with the Department of Environmental Quality.

The luncheon will take place at the Clarence Page Building at Wiley Post Airport. The Northwest Chamber thanks Cartridge World for sponsoring the luncheon, and Cocina de Mino for catering. All attending should RSVP to ashley@thenorthwestchamber.com.

There are several Chamber member businesses who are true “ecopreneurs”, making a living from green or sustainable industries.

Cartridge World handles ink cartridge recycling in environmentally friendly way at both ends of the sale. Doing business with them not only saves money, it’s also nice to know those bulky plastic cartridges are not adding to the mess in our landfills and leaking their chemicals into our water. Cartridge World has metro locations at Westgate Marketplace and at Rockwell & NW Expressway.

Another “Green” business is Shred-It, the world’s leading on-site document destruction company. By keeping unwanted papers shredded, opportunities for identity theft area reduced, as is recycling the shredded debris into a next generation product.

Other businesses help individuals go green – many by helping people turn their unwanted goods into someone else’s treasure, and not more trash. Getting more efficient means eliminating unnecessary consumption, like too many clothes in an over-stuffed closet. Enter Suited for Success, Kimberly’s Bargain Boutique, and the Heart and Hand Thrift Store.

Suited for Success accepts gently worn ladies apparel and provides them to women who are getting a new start on life. Kimberly’s Bargain Boutique and its companion store, Heroes and Hardball give local folks the chance to bring in their trading cards and comic books, dresses, and accessories and earn a little money by putting the items on consignment in their just-opened store at 38th and Peniel in downtown Bethany. Finally, local charity Heart and Hand Thrift Store is a place that will accept a wide array of donations, both clothing and household goods.

Our metro area will fall out of federal air quality compliance this year. This will cause big changes in the way we generate energy, drive and work. Businesses with fleets, aviation, landscaping, and those that work with chemicals (body shops, exterminators, dry cleaners, etc) will be especially impacted by the issue, which in other parts of the country has changed the way of life for all citizens with vehicle emissions testing, required auto modifications, and changes at every gasoline pump.

The Northwest Chamber is a member of the Central Oklahoma Regional Advocacy Alliance, which on June 17 will hold a forum to provide an informative and timely discussion on the impact of a non-attainment designation for central Oklahoma. Held at from 11:30 AM to 1 PM at Oklahoma Christian University, on Wednesday, June 17, registration is $40 and includes Lunch. Speakers include environmental law experts and others heavily involved in air and transportation public policy issues. Those interested should contact the Northwest Chamber at 789-1256.