Buy Green - Seek out organic foods or products made with non-toxic ingredients.

Likes

5

Green Clean

Bubbles

Using eco-friendly commercial dish cleaner for our restaurant that is also health-code compliant.We use as many eco-friendly cleaners as possible, but again, the health department has really strict guidelines. The chemicals in use to clean dishes are super crazy strong and probably very toxic. We'd really love to find something that would work, get the dishes as clean as can be, and is not going to be toxic in the water system.

Challenge Guidelines

Must comply with Oregon health code & food handling requirements for restaurants.

What this challenge offers to the winner

Lots of recognition and thanks. Seriously.

Which state this challenge is located in

Oregon

Current Solutions

Comments (7)


Lisa Williams: This is a great challenge that could affect all restaurants and coffee shops! Does anyone know if Oregon compliance codes are similar to other states?

Pennie O'grady: Some physical therapy and sports places I go to use a sprayed solution of tea tree oil (10 drops per quart) in place of a bleach solution. Sounds like you'd have to change the health dpt's codes in your situation to be in compliance, though.

Colin Price: According to the Food Service Regulations available from Oregon Health Authority, Section 4-501.114, chemical sanitizers can include chlorine, iodine solutions, quarternary ammonium compounds or "other" chemicals. If a product containing a chemical other than these three is used, it should be applied according to "manufacturer's use directions". Rules available at: http://bit.ly/fQWvLT When choosing an alternative that will be safer for people and the environment, I'd recommend looking for EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) or GreenSeal certified products. The DfE website has a searchable list of labeled products for "industrial/institutional" category, including automatic dishwasher detergents. There are a number of northwest companies manufacturing products in this category. Search the list here: http://1.usa.gov/Cp95P.

Kevin Pile: Great input @Lisa @Penny and @Colin Other additional inputs. 1) Contact Heather or Nathan at Maid Naturally located in Spokane. They do not carry a dish cleaner as part of their product line presently that I am aware of. However, they are developing every day. Might be an opportunity to get your foot in the door. www.maidnaturally.com 2) Coming soon....... UV Light Disenfecting Commercial Dishwashers. LG is releasing their line soon SustainAbly, Ecotrain

Joe Shapiro: The EcoSense line at Melaleuca.com includes Diamomnd Brite cleans without the use of bleach, chlorine or phosphates. You can read about here - http://www.melaleuca.com/ProductStore/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=655. Please feel free to contact me for details at (503) 329-5884 or joeworld12@gmail.com

If you'd like to post an EcoChallenge or a comment, become a member today. It's free!

Search EcoCategories by clicking on icons:

  • Buy_green_68x68_blue Buy Green - Seek out organic foods or products made with non-toxic ingredients.
  • Carbon_offsets_68x68_blue Carbon Offsets - Any action to reduce (or offset) greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Green_shipping_68x68_blue Green Shipping - Use reusable/recycled packaging. Use a green shipping company or method.
  • Light_less_68x68_blue Light Less - Choose energy efficient light bulbs and machinery. Redesign to let in natural light to consume less electricity.
  • Recycle_68x68_blue Recycle - Convert used materials into new products. Figure out what you can recycle and where.
  • Reduce_waste_68x68_blue Reduce Waste - Anticipate a way to prevent waste before it happens.
  • Reuse_68x68_blue Reuse - Lengthen the life of a product or material before it is recycled or disposed.
  • Think_local_68x68_blue Think Local - Buy locally and support prosperity in your community.

What are the Eco Icons? For any EcoChallenge, choose one or more icons that best reflects the category of sustainability that is helped by an EcoSolution. If an EcoSolution results in a new way to recycle something, choose the Recycle Icon; if an EcoSolution results in less waste production, choose the Reduce Waste Icon. A new water conservation method may represent multiple icons. You decide! If your EcoChallenge does not fall under any of the Icons, please let us know so we can create a new one! Scroll over each Eco Icon for a definition.