Green Hub(s)

Recycling and reuse outlets and food re-distribution partners often lack access to facilities that efficiently and equitably manage materials and reduce waste. A Green Hub that is a collaboration of multiple sustainability-related organizations could house:

• food scrap collection and processing (including composting) facilities,
• cold storage and repacking/processing areas for rescued food,
• light manufacturing/workshop space for “upcycling” and repair-focused organizations,
• collection, processing, and warehouse space for pallet wrap and other plastics that can’t go into curbside recycling bins, Styrofoam, electronics, batteries, lightbulbs and other “hard-to-recycle” items,
• collection and packing space for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW),
• collection, processing, and public “shopping” areas for “odd ball” reuse items, like plant pots, egg cartons, gently used office and school supplies, design samples (tile, fabric swatches, etc.),
• a retail/consignment area for people who make their living by upcycling materials, and
• innovation space for sustainability start-ups (for-profit and non-profit).

Cross-docking capabilities in the warehouse would simplify logistics, and shared common areas (classrooms, bathrooms, employee lunchrooms, etc.) and administrative support (IT, HR, bookkeeping, etc.) would help keep overhead costs low for all of the involved organizations, allowing them to spend more time and money on their missions.

In addition to the warehousing and processing aspects of the Hub, we propose having a centralized location for other aspects of sustainability, too.  For instance, a park-like campus could increase tree canopy amounts, and people could take walks on trails, participate in a community garden, or attend other sustainable community events.  Indoor and outdoor education spaces would allow people (including school field trips and summer camps) to learn about ways to reduce waste, repair items, or cook things they grew in the garden.  On-site EV charging stations could be used by “customers”, community members, and those traveling from farther afield who need to recharge their vehicles.

Because the synergy of multiple organizations will increase collaborations and their collective impacts, we expect a Green Hub to significantly reduce waste, build local climate resilience, and increase and develop the local sustainability workforce. Ideally, the sites for Green Hubs would also remediate and retrofit brownfields, sustainably renovate inefficient buildings to be as close to net zero as possible, and be established along transportation corridors to better adapt to modern and future transportation systems to reduce carbon emissions.