Two Bordentown City businesses were recently honored for implementing eco-friendly initiatives in the community.
Two restaurants, Properly Fueled and The Heart of Bordentown Tavern, received “Green Business Recognition” awards from the Bordentown City Green Team at the Bordentown City Board of Commissioners meeting at the Carslake Community Center on Aug. 12.
The award is presented to businesses in the city that voluntarily implement strategies and practices to reduce energy consumption and waste, use sustainable materials, offer greener products and contribute to the community.
Properly Fueled, which was opened in May 2017 by mother-daughter team Denise and Aubrie Evans, aims to “transform the way people think about fast, convenient and healthy cuisine,” according to a statement from the Bordentown City Green Team.
The pair said they incorporate concepts of sustainability into their business practices, such as sourcing all meats and proteins from wild, organic and/or local sources, composting food waste and recycling all materials.
When dining in, patrons are served meals on ceramic, glass and other reusable materials. A chalkboard near the counter informs customers of the local farms, coffee roasters and bakeries they are supporting. To-go materials are made of recycled paper products.
The Evans team said they installed energy efficient appliances and windows during the renovation of the property in preparation for the opening, which they said reduced energy consumption and water consumption. They said their team aims to educate the community about healthy eating options through other venues such as social media and public events.
The Heart of Bordentown Tavern, better known as “The HOB” among the community, was opened in 2002 by Mary Buhrer and is managed by her daughter, Courtney Spundarelli. They duo said that during the past two years they emphasized reducing the tavern’s environmental impact.
One of the first areas in which they aimed to go green was the reduction of single-use items. They said patrons no longer find plastic shot glasses, straws and to-go containers.
Disposable signs that advertise upcoming events and specials have been replaced with chalkboards with the goal of saving landfill space and money. Take-out orders are now served in recyclable packaging, according to the managers.
In regard to supporting the local economy and community, the managers said seasonal produce from local farms can often be found on the specials menu each week and they recently supported the Bordentown Laundry Initiative with a $2,500 matching grant from Tito’s Vodka.
The Bordentown Laundry Initiative is a program organized by Christ Church Parish, Bordentown, which offers free laundry services for people in need.
Buhrer and Spundarelli said they recognize the learning curve and effort required to transition a business model and culture toward a more sustainable approach, and they are being commended for their efforts thus far by the city board of commissioners.
Moving forward, they said are planning to begin composting much of the tavern’s food waste and reaching out to other established restaurants in the community to establish more widespread sustainable efforts.
Properly Fueled and The HOB join three other city businesses that have been recognized for their green accomplishments: Bordentown Home for Funerals, Rivertown Laundromat and Mimosa Goods.
The Bordentown City Green Team is a volunteer group that meets at the environmental commission meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at the Carslake Community Center.
The Green Team has received silver status in the Sustainable Jersey Program and was a “Sustainability Champion” in the small municipalities category. Community members are encouraged to join the team and may contact [email protected] for more information.