November 13, 2011

Cafe becomes first ‘zero waste’ dining facility at Homewood

Azafran Cafe in the Space Telescope Science Institute has reached a milestone: It’s the first “zero-waste” dining facility on the university’s Homewood campus. Everything used in the cafe is washable, reusable, recyclable or compostable.

“Thanks to our partnership with the institute and Johns Hopkins University, our organic waste and our biodegradable to-go containers are now being picked up three times a week. Very little is going to a landfill,” said Irena Stein, Azafran’s chef/owner.

Plastic bottles have been scratched from the menu. Customers are encouraged to use the dining room’s water filter to replenish their own reusable bottles, and the only juices sold are the Odwalla brand, whose containers are made of plant-based material. Even the lighting has been changed, with 150 watt bulbs being replaced by 23 watt ones.