KALAMAZOO – About 150,000 plastic cups will not make their way to a landfill because of Bell’s Brewery’s commitment to the environment.

The 100-percent compostable Greenware Cups used at Bell’s Eccentric Café are made of Polylactic Acid, a starch based polymer derived from corn. They will be fed to a Tub Grinder, a machine that will literally beat the cups into pieces roughly the size of a quarter.

The plastic shreds will then be mixed in with other yard waste and compost by The Leaf Man, a Kalamazoo-based company that is under a trial contract to take over composting services for the city of Kalamazoo.

A lot of people use them, but they don’t compost them, said Evan Meffert, Bell’s Sustainability Coordinator.

“It’s all about being green and environmentally friendly. In the past we have used petroleum cups and despite the additional cost, they (Greenware Cups) are definitely worth it,” said Jason Reicherts, Retail and Pub Manager for Bell’s Eccentric Café.

The cups are made locally by Kalamazoo based Fabri-Kal from plant sources that are domestically-grown and annually renewable.

“It’s best to get them out of the waste stream entirely. That takes partnerships, which we have with Leaf Man and Fabri-Kal,” Meffert said.

 “We cut solid waste by about 70-percent just by using these cups,” he said.

Bourbon barrels once used for beer conditioning are outfitted with recycled PVC pipes to collect the cups and make sure they are kept separate from other garbage.

Here is a look at events featuring Bell's beer in Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Ohio.

Illinois

Oct. 10

Beer dinner with Larry Bell
Larry Bell will host this six-course beer dinner at Hopleaf in Chicago at 7 p.m. For more details, go here.

North Carolina

Oct. 10

Beer dinner at Ruka's Table
This 2nd Annual Bell's beer dinner will include a special draft of Deb's (dry-hopped) Red Ale. For more information, go here.

Georgia

Oct. 10

Atlanta Craft Beer Week
The Midway Pub in Atlanta will kick-off Atlanta Craft Beer Week with Batch 10,000, Hell Hath No Fury ... Ale and Quinannan Falls Special Lager at 5 p.m.

Ohio

Oct. 12

Tap takeover
Multiple Bell's beers will be on tap at Fourth Street Patio in Columbus. For a list and details, go here.

Virginia

Oct. 13

Bell's Stout Night
Come to the dark side with vintage and draft-only Bell's beer and food at Current in Richmond.

Georgia

Oct. 13

Beer and cheese
Enjoy beer from five breweries, including Bell's, paired with artisinal cheeses starting at 6 p.m. at The Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta.

Looking ahead

Next week, Bell's will be at the Detroit Fall Beer Festival, Rattlesnake Club, Northern Virginia Brewfest and more.

KALAMAZOO – Black Lab Five, 123 W. Kalamazoo Ave. in downtown Kalamazoo, will host a stop at this month’s Art Hop featuring artwork from Bell's labels, including Oarsman Ale (left) and The Wild One, from 5-9 p.m. Friday.

It will feature more than 30 pieces by various artists.

Refreshments will be served and some of the artists will also be present.

Afterward, swing by the pub at the Eccentric Café for a beer.

The October Art Hop, one of four expanded Art Hops this year, will feature 56 locations. The event is presented by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo and Downtown Kalamazoo Inc.

Black Lab Five is stop #23 on the Art Hop map.

For more information on the Art Hop, go here.