Manatee Chamber of Commerce and Waste Pro Launch Green Business Initiative

BRADENTON -- Waste Pro, the Southeastern U.S. waste collector with a major presence in Manatee and Pinellas Counties, has joined a program developed by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce to recognize and certify local businesses for operating with the environment in mind.

"Sustainable Manatee" program will rate and then certifie local companies by awarding them points for various "green" initiatives that help conserve energy or eliminate waste.

"We haven't even printed our manual with the guidelines for what a company needs to do to earn green certification and already we have widespread interest in the program," said Jason Taylor, a Fawley Bryant Architects and the chair of the green business initiative committee.

Going "green" means the business operates in ways that conserve natural resources and eliminate waste, according to Keith Banasiak, regional vice president for Waste Pro and one of the founding members of the Manatee Chamber Green Business Initiative.

"We are committed to looking for any way to make our operation greener," said Banasiak.

Waste Pro and seven other Manatee businesses have already met the guidelines for certification.

Taylor said Waste Pro was an example of a company taking charge.

"They are not sitting around and waiting," he said. "They are making a difference and setting the bar and actively looking for any recycling opportunity or ways to save."

The Sustainable Manatee program began a little more than a month ago but has been in the works for about a year.

Printing of the manuals with guidelines for any company to see should be completed next month. A special section of the Manatee Chamber web site is also in the works. It will focus on the Green Business Initiative, listing the energy saving guidelines for companies along with tips for saving energy and eliminating waste.

News information submitted by Gregg Anderson, business manager, for Digital Image Business Solutions.