- Achieved 90% solid waste diversion in each warehouse
- Substantial and ongoing client savings
Designed and implemented a company-wide recycling and green-waste collection program. The program captures the organic waste generated within Costco warehouses and diverts it from the landfill to a local composting facility, where it undergoes thermophilic decomposition. Further decomposition, using a vermicomposting process with earthworms, creates a value-added end product--worm castings.
- The event environmental impact report was included as a case study for the CalRecycle website on venues and events.
G-Rock works closely with the City of Indio to create zero-waste events that educate and engage local residents and travelers about eco-friendly products and practices, as well as the benefits of waste diversion through composting and recycling.
Developed and executed a process to demonstrate the potential for remediating the hydrocarbons and toxins found in oil using natural processes. In November of 2007, the Cosco Buson container ship collided with the Bay Bridge, spilling over 58,000 gallons of Bunker C fuel oil in the San Francisco Bay. A portion of the spill was cleaned using natural fiber mats made of human hair. These oily hair mats were subjected to a series of thermophilic and vermi- composting processes, where communities of microbial fauna and flora utilized the hydrocarbons as a food source. The end product is an organic soil amendment that can be safely dispersed back into the environment, enhancing plant growth and soil quality.
In a 3,550 tree factorial study, irrigation compost tea and worm castings were examined as a plant fertilizer supplement and potting soil replacement for peat moss. Peat moss is a costly non-renewable resource. Research demonstrated castings' ability to replace peat moss by providing the same physical properties for effective aeration & water retention. The combination of treatments increased growth rates and production, while reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and peat moss.
The Seed to Belly educational program teaches K-12 children about the food cycle and how it influences their own health and the health of the planet. The program is composed of interactive, hands-on activities that focus on plant propagation, care, pest control, healthy food preparation and composting of food scraps. State mandated curriculum from disciplines such as science, math, reading, nutrition and art are integrated into the program.