High Cotton, Maverick Bar & Grill Receives South Carolina Recycling Award

For Immediate Release, March 2010

High Cotton restaurant in downtown Charleston was honored for its outstanding recycling program and waste reduction activities, at the second annual South Carolina Smart Business Recycling Program awards ceremony. Eight companies in the state were selected for having the best recycling programs for the 2009 fiscal year. High Cotton restaurant in downtown Charleston is the only restaurant among the honorees, and one of two organizations representing the hospitality industry.

The S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program is a partnership between DHEC and the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
The two hospitality industry awards are also the only companies honored from the Lowcountry.

Companies recognized are Bausch & Lomb (Greenville), Eaton Corporation (Sumter), EuroKera (Fountain Inn), Michelin North America (Lexington), Michelin North America (Sandy Springs), Shaw Industries (Columbia) and Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Kiawah Island).

High Cotton’s recycling program was documented through a lengthy questionnaire and application process, submitted for nomination and consideration in early December 2009. The program includes specific and detailed practices throughout the organization including, purchasing, waste reduction and recycling, energy and water efficiency, air quality, and sustainable food service. The awards were announced in February of 2010.

In addition to the statewide award, High Cotton also received a Two Palmettos award from the South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance a partnership between DHEC and the South Carolina Hospitality Association. The S.C. Green Hospitality Alliance is designed to help hospitality facilities go green, and was formed in 2009.

High Cotton General Manager John St. John states, “Our program includes many components, from routine activities in energy efficiency, to the lesser known things we do, like saving every wine bottle cork for donation to the S.C. Aquarium, for recycling into flooring tiles. Each employee is involved, and they are the true champions of our efforts”.

High Cotton, owned by Maverick Southern Kitchens, is one of the company’s six properties involved in extensive recycling activities. The Charleston-based restaurant and hospitality company owns a collection of distinctive properties in Charleston, Greenville, and Pawleys Island. For more information, visit the web site at www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com.