Restaurateur scoops green awards for outlets

Published on Thursday 26 February 2009 09:14

A CITY restaurateur's drive to become eco-friendly has scooped a hat-trick of environmental awards for his three Edinburgh restaurants.

Tony Crolla cut his suppliers from 22 to just seven to reduce lorry trips to the restaurants – and he has banned them from leaving boxes and cardboard at the premises, thus encouraging them to recycle.

All leftover food is removed by homeless charity Cyrenians who turn it into compost which it sells to raise funds. And the restaurants all have energy efficient hand-dryers instead of paper towels.

Mr Crolla's efforts have now seen Vittoria on the Walk in Leith Walk take Gold in the Keep Edinburgh Clean awards, with sister venues, Vittoria on George IV Bridge and La Favorita on Leith Walk, receiving Silver awards.

Mr Crolla said: "Restaurants are hugely wasteful in the way they operate but with the right determination you can bring about change.

"We are now very conscious of the impact our business has on the environment. In fact, we now have a philosophy of 'whatever leaves the building, is leaving to be recycled'."

The Keep Edinburgh Clean Awards are co-ordinated by the city council to recognise environmental initiatives by businesses.