Month: December 2024

Based in St. Louis, Quiet Village Landscaping is a full-service custom landscape design and lawn care service company that has been providing the bi-state area with high-quality landscape design, hardscape, maintenance, bed maintenance and seasonal services since 2001. With a focus on sustainability and commitment to bringing clients’ visions to life with its unique processes, the Clean Air Partnership is pleased to shine a spotlight on the company for its green achievements that are having a positive impact on regional air quality and outdoor spaces across the region.

“Our passion lies in leading the way toward sustainability in green spaces,” said Dennis Evans, owner of Quiet Village Landscaping. “Over 2,300 native plants we installed will support local wildlife, thrive with minimal irrigation, and reduce use of harmful chemicals. Our drainage solutions protect local waterways, sustainably diverting thousands of gallons from overloading creeks and streams and proliferating best practice examples. And our commitment extends beyond our work. We engage in community projects to beautify public spaces and connect people and nature. At Quiet Village Landscaping, we believe that together, we can make a positive environmental impact.”

As a participant in the 2023 St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Leader Level, Quiet Village Landscaping introduced additional native plants and provided ongoing maintenance for its Adopt-A-Highway beautification project and butterfly garden in Olivette, Missouri. The company also organized a volunteer team to lead park beautification efforts at the historic St. Louis Place Park, as well as coordinated a group training and volunteer event to complete edging, composting and mulching to support the growth of 15 young saplings at Dr. H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park. Furthermore, to help preserve the well-being of local waterways for the communities it serves, the company facilitated the design and installation of 19 drainage solutions projects, which effectively averted water damage.

Other impressive accomplishments during the Challenge included the installation of several automatic light sensors throughout four sections of the company’s office and a new water bottle filling station, in addition to providing new reusable water bottles to all staff members to reduce excess plastic waste. Additionally, Quiet Village Landscaping revamped its waste management procedures, recycling more than 2,500 yards of natural yard waste into compost and mulch and circulating over 175 pots. Team training was also implemented to reinforce the company’s commitment to removing invasive plants and replacing them with native alternatives, which also helped to improve air quality!

For more information about Quiet Village Landscaping and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, subscribe to their bi-monthly E-Newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com. For more on the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

‘Tis the season to be eco-conscious as the holidays bring many opportunities to go green and think about the impact our treasured traditions and activities these next couple weeks can have on the environment. In all the enthusiasm and hustle and bustle that comes between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, it’s easy to overlook our impact on the planet, though it’s important to recognize that the average household will produce up to 25% more waste during this festive period, according to the EPA.

Merrymakers can reduce their carbon footprint and limit unnecessary waste by making a few small changes in the way we celebrate. Here are some insightful tips to making the holiday season more merry, bright and sustainable to help improve regional air quality for area residents to breathe easier:

• • Gift Greener – Consider gifting an experience to loved ones to reduce waste and environmental impact. Buying gifts from local businesses that follow social and environmental practices or supporting local artists, craftspeople or farmers will also largely benefit the region’s air quality. Additionally, newspapers, old posters, maps, reusable gift bags or scrap fabric lying around the house make for beautiful, personal and unique gift wraps. If you choose to buy gift wrap, look for recycled content gift wrap paper whenever you can find it.
  • Green Your Holiday Dinner Table – If you’re in charge of hosting a holiday feast for loved ones this year, sourcing as many of your ingredients as possible locally helps to cut down on emissions produced by large transport trucks. The less your produce and supplies must travel, the less waste is produced, and the smaller the environmental impact. Additionally, single-use items (while they make the cleanup process more convenient) are less visually appealing than reusable dishware and far worse for the environment. So, consider swapping out disposable plates, cups, napkins and silverware for your favorite set of dishes this year for greener dining.
  • Properly Dispose of Your Tree – If your holiday includes a tree, and you opt for an artificial one, box it up once the season is over and save it for years to come. When you’re ready to get rid of it, do your best to recycle or donate it to help avoid the hazardous landfill. For real trees that still have the root ball attached, consider re-planting in your yard after the holidays or dispose of the tree at a composting or chipping facility in your neighborhood to do your share for cleaner air.

  • Travel Sustainably – Last but not least, greener travel starts before even leaving the house. The more weight trains, planes and automobiles must carry, the more fuel they use, and the more harmful greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere. So, be conscious of how many extra items you’re packing to lighten the load and help keep the air quality in healthy ranges. If traveling by your own personal vehicle, routine maintenance steps like checking engine performance and keeping tires properly inflated are ideal ways to help reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The bus or train are also great options that can offer a certain level of convenience, particularly if the weather and roads are bad along your route.

To learn more about the link between living greener and our air quality, visit the tips section of the Clean Air Partnership’s website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.

Since 1904, Shapiro Metals has been providing advanced scrap metal recycling services to the greater St. Louis region. With a dedication to sustainability and efficiency, the company creates customized recycling programs for manufacturing partners across a broad range of industries, in addition to trading materials with consumers across the globe and providing programs with a pathway to sustainability and circularity. This month, the Clean Air Partnership is delighted to shine a spotlight on Green Business Challenge Leader Shapiro Metals for its new approach to industrial recycling and sustainability solutions for manufacturers that is creating a better, greener tomorrow for area businesses and the planet.

As a participant in the 2023 St. Louis Green Business Challenge at the Leader Level, Shapiro Metals initiated a “Green Team” among 11 of the company’s plants to create awareness and excitement around recycling. The teams were able to collect nearly 15,000 pounds of paper and cardboard in just three months as part of the very first challenge they took on. In the end, the plant that collected the most pounds per team member was able to receive $500 per person. Additionally, across all Shapiro Metals plants, the company performed a “Safety & Sustainability Stand Down” training to introduce employees to the importance of what it means to be sustainable as a business and at home. As part of the training, an overview of basic elements included the environmental impacts of their day-to-day decisions, including what they eat, what they drive, and how they dispose of waste.

Among the other eco-friendly innovations that helped earn Shapiro Metals recognition in the Challenge was the purchase of a wood shredder at the company’s Springfield, Missouri location to reduce hazardous landfill waste. Since then, the Springfield facility has seen a 40% reduction of its waste by simply shredding the material of unusable pallets so it can be repurposed rather than sent to the landfill, which also benefits air quality by eliminating gases released into the atmosphere as waste decomposes.

Moreover, Shapiro Metals participated in a “Pollution Prevention” training hosted by the Green Business Challenge with Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute, which included an assessment of its manufacturing facility efficiencies and associated possible cost savings for added sustainability.

“The Challenge enabled us to reaffirm our company’s purpose: Making the Planet Better, Together,” said Emily Patterson, Chief of Staff for Shapiro Metals.

For more information on Shapiro Metals and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, subscribe to their bi-monthly E-Newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com. For more on the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair.