Recycling Stories: Barfly Ventures

BarFly was founded by Mark Sellers in 2008 after opening HopCat in Grand Rapids and is the parent company of HopCat, Stella’s Lounge, Grand Rapids Brewing Company, and The Waldron Public House, all restaurants and bars in Michigan and across the Midwest. In 2013, Autumn Sands, then a bartender at the Grand Rapids Brewing Company, began to lead the company’s waste diversion initiatives. Within a year, Autumn developed a robust Sustainability Program, resulting in BarFly recycling and composting up to 90% of the waste generated at all their locations.

That success led BarFly to commit to managing their waste differently and has since learned that these initiatives not only resonate with staff, but also with guests. Strong partnerships to further recycling and composting have increased brand value and positively impacted local communities.

In 2016, BarFly diverted an estimated 17,670 cubic yards of waste from 14 stores, 11 cities and 6 states. They recycled 13,800 cubic yards of materials such as cardboard, metal, and plastic. They composted 3,870 cubic yards of food scraps, spent grain, and other organic waste to create compost, a soil amendment that returns nutrients back into the food system. In addition, BarFly also uses compostable straws, napkins, to-go boxes, cups, ramekins, bowls, silverware, and bags, all made from plants and renewable resources that can be composted in their materials management system. Not only does BarFly recycle most of their waste, they also strive to source food and products from companies that have similar commitments.

In order to accomplish their 90% recycling goal, BarFly depends on recycling and composting service providers in the cities where they do business. The company has opened locations in several markets where those essential services already exist. Autumn and her team work with local haulers, facilities, and stakeholders to create the services they require.

In areas where disposal fees are lower than recycling or composting fees, it can be a challenge to ensure that contracted haulers are handling materials with integrity, particularly if the company providing the hauling also owns and/or operates a landfill. However, BarFly remains committed to recycling and takes the challenges of engaging staff, guests, service providers, and stakeholders in accomplishing these goals very seriously. BarFly may not be your typical restaurant/bar company, but you can bet they are at the forefront of a lasting trend for bars and restaurants.