The Green Dining Alliance is a natural extension of earthday365’s award winning, event-greening program Recycling On the Go (ROG). ROG started as a response to a need for waste reduction and diversion strategies at area events. Since ROG’s inception in 2007, the program has kept over 1000 tons of recyclable and organic materials out of area landfills, enhanced the operations of thousands events, and exposed literally millions people to recycling when away from home.

In working with food vendors at events, many of whom own local restaurants or catering businesses, we realized that there was a need for and interest in greening the restaurant industry.

Like ROG, the Green Dining Alliance provides an opportunity for restaurants and diners to take environmental action and make a tangible impact on sustainability in the region. After two years of piloting the program with seven flagship members, the GDA was fully launched in late 2012, thanks to the increased support of the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District.

Since our inception, the GDA has diverted hundreds of tons of material from the landfill, convinced dozens of restaurants to go styrofoam-free, lowered the emissions of our region, and helped support our local food system.

You can help us with our efforts by becoming a Green Dining Ambassador or making a donation.