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 Conserving energy. Becoming eco-friendly. Recycling waste. Reducing your carbon footprint. Regardless of how you describe it, it's a national movement that can't be ignored. And unlike most trends, our community's commitment to living, working and playing while minimizing our impact on the environment is here to stay. Read More
Fisher Recycling - Grand Strand
 Fisher Recycling - Grand Strand offers MBACC and MBAHA/Hospitality Partnership members the opportunity to "Go Green - Grand Strand" by taking advantage of complimentary on-site waste audit and recommendations to create a customized recycling program for your business, as well as personalized training and education for your staff. With a 3-year Recycling Service Contract, Fisher Recycling - Grand Strand offers exclusively to MBACC and MBAHA/Hospitality Partnership members one free pick up and one month of free recycling containers/bins. To learn about recycling services, contact Kira Roff, president/ecopreneur, at (843) 314-3512.
Going Green at Office Depot
Maximize your savings with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Office Depot. Because of your membership with Myrtle Beach Area Chamber, it costs you nothing to sign up for this program (log into the Members Only page to sign up for the Office Depot program).
Office Depot provides a catalog with nearly 2,200 green products and a Web site that allows you to access all 6,500+ of their products with environmental attributes (light green to dark green items).
| Examples of chamber member savings on green items | item # | member price | retail price | | 30% Office Depot Recycled Paper | 940-650 | $36.70 | $40.99 | | Office Depot Green Jr. Writing Pads | 480-710 | $5.21 | $5.79 | | Green Heavy Duty Hanging Folder Ltr. | 810-929 | $5.36 | $9.99 | Zebra ECO Jimnie Retractable
Ballpoint Pen | 528-336 | $14.39 | $15.99 | Avery Clear Label Dividers w/ Color Tabs
(5-pk) | 161-361 | $22.49 | $24.99 | | Savings over the manufacturer's brand | item # | remanu-factured | original
equipment manufacturer | Office Depot Remanufactured for
HP 15 Cartridge | 587-114 | $29.99 | $34.99 | Office Depot Remanufactured for
Brother TN-430 Toner | 217-192 | $50.99 | $59.99 |
For more product information, shop online (with your login specifically for the chamber program) or in store with your (registered purchasing card) to receive the member pricing. To enroll, go to the MBACC's Members Only page or contact your local Office Depot representative, Curtis Richardson, at (888) 213-8948, ext. 5499.
MBACC Going Green
Going green. Conserving energy. Becoming eco-friendly. Recycling waste. Reducing your carbon footprint. Regardless of how you describe it, it's a national movement that can't be ignored. And unlike most trends, our community's commitment to living, working and playing while minimizing our impact on the environment is here to stay.
To that end, your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is making a commitment to connect businesses to resources to help companies implement green thinking in their day-to-day operations and employees' lifestyles at work and in the community. The chamber also is embarking on a process to become more environmentally sound as an organization.
Going green is not a new practice for Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce - it's been part of the company's business practices for close to 15 years. Like most small businesses, going green for MBACC meant taking small steps over the years. Aluminum cans were collected for donations and recycling and soon other recyclables were added to the mix: cardboard, printer cartridges, plastic and paper. MBACC also is a Santee Cooper Green Power Partner with 15 blocks or 2.65 percent of our total annual billing amount being reinvested into future developments of additional renewable resources or Green Power facilities.
As we look to step up our conservation efforts, MBACC is working with Fisher Recycling on recycling efforts. One simple act is adding more recycling bins throughout the chamber offices to encourage staff, along with visitors and members, to recycle their beverage cans and water bottles.
Environmentally friendly practices
As your chamber takes on more environmentally friendly activities, MBACC recognizes a number of our members already are active proponents of environmental stewardship.
At the 2009 annual membership meeting, a new award recognized our members' commitment to sound environmental practices. The Operating Green Award was presented to Brookgreen Gardens for their eco-friendly outdoor policies and recycling efforts along with other environmentally friendly measures. Hilton & Kingston Plantation Resorts and Ocean Lakes Family Campground also were recognized as finalists. You can read more about these businesses in our cover story, "Greening of the Grand Strand."
When we recently asked members to send in their green tips, members responded enthusiastically with a slew of conservation practices ranging from solar energy installations and water conservation to business recycling. We invite you to learn more about what your fellow MBACC members are doing to keep the Myrtle Beach area beautiful and sustainable at this new Going Green Web site.
Sorting the mix
As environmental concerns have increased and the costs of green technologies come down, more and more businesses owners - both large and small - have begun adopting green technologies. Consumers are increasingly responding to businesses that are environmentally responsible. With this in mind, it only makes smart business sense to review your green practices. Besides, it is the right thing to do - reduce, reuse, recycle.
Brad Dean, president & CEO, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Green Web SitesMembers Going Green
Send us an e-mail and we'll share your conservation ideas.
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber powers Hurricane Preparedness Conference on Green Power
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has purchased renewable Green Power from Santee Cooper to meet all of the energy needs for chamber's 5th Annual Hurricane Preparedness Conference on Monday, June 7. The conference will take place at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel and features practical advice on getting through a hurricane as well as an update on predictions for the 2010 hurricane season.
"The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce supports the development of renewable energy in South Carolina as a Green Power Partner, purchasing blocks of Green Power each month through our bill. We are pleased now to carry this commitment further and purchase Green Power specifically for this off-site and high profile event," said Diana Greene, executive vice president of membership programs and services for the chamber
Santee Cooper generates 22 megawatts of renewable Green Power from clean, renewable energy sources including landfill biogas and solar power. In fact, Santee Cooper is the only utility generating Green Power in South Carolina, which it began in 2001 by opening the Horry County Landfill Generating Station.
"As the state's leader in renewable energy, Santee Cooper wants to continue expanding our Green Power program through innovative projects such as this one with the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and its Hurricane Preparedness Conference," said Marc Tye, Santee Cooper vice president of conservation and renewable energy. "As always, the revenues from the chamber's Green Power purchase will be fully reinvested in new or expanded Green Power generation by Santee Cooper. This is an investment that keeps on generating returns."
Ocean Lakes Family Campground was awarded the 2010 Earth Day Award by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control at its second annual Earth Day Awards program held April 14, 2010. The award was presented to Ocean Lakes for its iCare Program aimed at helping reduce the environmental impact of the campground and its guests. The campground's program uses the slogan "Action and Awareness Count," encouraging guest responsibility and education and focuses on recycling, pet pollution and litter.
Ocean Lakes Family Campground is the first resort in the area to dedicate a truck and manpower to collect and haul its own recyclables to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Horry County. It is part of the campground's commitment to being more "green friendly," an initiative which kicked off last summer with Ocean Lakes' iCare Program. The iCare Program uses the slogan "Awareness and Action Count" to encourage guest responsibility and education. The program focuses on pet pollution, litter impact, recycling and finding new ways to operate more efficiently. The campground owns and operates five 20-yard rear loader garbage trucks, and in January, dedicated one truck to collecting recyclables only. The truck was re-painted and bears the iCare logo to promote its green initiatives program. Since January, Ocean Lakes has delivered eight tons to the facility.
Shred Alert has dedicated itself to two areas of the "green market" for many years. The first, document destruction, and the second, paper recycling. In addition to those, they also recycle cardboard, X-rays, computer hard drives and other miscellaneous office use products.Shred Alert has been handling document shredding and recycling for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce for more than 5 years. Serving Horry , Georgetown and Brunswick counties since 2002, Shred Alert has become "the premier document destruction and recycling company of the Grand Strand and surrounding areas." Their 14,000 square foot facility will shortly be expanding into records retention and storage with the addition of another 13,000 square feet. Shred Alert has special rates and programs for all residential customers that would like to visit their facility and have their records destroyed in-person. Also, many times throughout the year they partner with local banks, nonprofit organizations and news media stations for "Shred Days." That's where the general public can come to a specific location and receive free on-site shredding from a specially designed shred truck, in order to stomp out "Identity Theft," which is considered today as America's fastest growing crime.
Springmaid Beach Resort installed low water rate flow shower heads, sensor activated towel dispensers, and amenity dispensers in all guest rooms (no individual plastic
bottles). Their recycling program includes recycling bins at each high volume waste area, and bulk recycling containers at restaurant sites, pier and maintenance/housekeeping areas. Their payroll role system is moving to a paperless process. They use green certified paper products in guest rooms and public areas. They do not use plastic foam takeout containers in their restaurants since it is not biodegradable. And Springmaid Beach Resort is doing its part "to keep reusable items out of the landfills." The resort has donated 500+ spreads to local charities and 450 patio plastic chairs to various community members.
Congratulations to Springmaid Beach Resort for recycling 35 tons of material. From Feb. 14-25, John Williams, assistant general manager, and the Springmaid group have been hard at work with Fisher Recycling to recycle 900 mattress/box spring units from their resort. This tonnage totaled 68,400 pounds of material. In addition, the plastic wrap from the new mattresses and box springs was also set aside, picked up and recycled through Phoenix Recycling/Waste Zero. This totaled 1,900 pounds of plastic wrap.
Hilton & Kingston Plantation Resorts was a finalist in the chamber's first Operating Green annual membership award category, have created innovative and cost-saving measures that save energy and water and reduce solid waste. Whether it's buying hybrid/alternative fuel vehicles, preparing locally grown fresh food, or using drought tolerant landscaping material, these earth-friendly initiatives are part of their commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle whenever possible.
Staybridge Suites uses environmentally safe chemicals, employs energy tracking with actions plans to improve usage, and encourages employees to submit conservation ideas.
Shore Crest Vacation Villas (Bluegreen Vacation Club) donates scrapped items to community agencies. Discarded sheets and blankets are donated to local charities such as CASA, The Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries; bottles of shampoo and lotion with lower than suitable levels for guest rooms are donated to Boys and Girls Clubs; and rolls of toilet paper, paper towels and facial tissue that are to be discarded are also donated to CASA.
Carolina Grande (Bluegreen Vacation Club) installed various energy saving devices to cut back on usage and save money. The spa is placed on timers that turn off nightly when the area is closed and solar panels on the roof supplement the heating for domestic and laundry room water.
Lee's Inlet Apothecary & Gifts: reminds us to keep our water clean by not flushing unwanted medicines down the toilet, unless specified on the container. "You should put the unwanted medicine in a sealable bag, add coffee grounds or kitty litter to make it undesirable for humans and animals, and throw it in the trash.,"
"A lot of people throw away home goods, clothing, etc. that are still very useful only because they don't want to deal with them and just want it out of their home," observes John Griggs with State Farm Insurance. "Truth is that the items may be easier to get rid of than they think. If they ask their co-workers or fellow congregants at church, they will be surprised how many people would like to have what they no longer need. In giving it to those people, they have not only done a good deed, but also saved some much needed funds."
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk changed out all of the light bulbs on theto the more efficient CFL bulbs; moved the printed community newsletter distribution from four times a year to twice a year and added an enewsletter twice a month. And, for the first time ever, they used the Santee Cooper Green Power program to light the Murrells Inlet Christmas tree at Morse Park.
Blue Wave Adventures Dolphin Watch and Eco Tours employed the use of four stroke engines on their boats. This reduces fuel consumption, there are no oil residues put into the water through the exhaust, and the emissions off the motors are much cleaner than two stroke or diesel boat motors. They also make sure that any rubbish onboard stays onboard and that it gets to the recycling bin at the end of the day. It is also a habit of their to pick up from the ocean any garbage, such as plastic bags, balloons, drink bottles, etc., that we see floating about. Additionally, their trips focus heavily on the environment and educating our guests about their impact on the oceans and, in particular, dolphins, no matter where they live. "We always close our tours by encouraging guests to get involved with the environment in some way. Every little bit makes a difference."
Ripley's Aquarium employees were given a reusable cup made from recycled plastic that they can use for all refills of water, soft drinks and coffee. By using this cup and offering large water dispensers, thousands of plastic bottles, aluminum cans and paper cups are eliminated each year.
Ocean Lakes Family Campground is testing its first solar water heated bathhouse as part of its successful iCare Program. The campground's iCare Program is aimed at helping reduce the environmental impact of the campground and its guests. The program focuses on pet pollution, litter and recycling and storm water runoff.
"The shredded paper from your shredder works great for outdoor mulch," suggests Angie Shoemaker with RE/MAX Beach & Golf. "Just put it on the ground then put leaves over it and it keeps the weeds down."
Canaan Sewell, a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Chicora, holds the Green Designation from the National Association of REALTORS®. According to Sewell, the Green Designation helps "consumers who care about energy efficiency and sustainable building practices identify REALTORS who can help them realize their green real estate and lifestyle goals."
Lisa Terrill, with Watermark Real Estate Group, has earned the EcoBroker designation. Terrill helps clients buy and sell properties with green features, save money, and live comfortably, through energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive choices.
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