Thinking about launching a green business? If so, here are five basic questions you may wish to consider. These questions formed the basis for a green business evaluation as part of the recent Greater Green Business Search:

Is this a problem that needs to be solved?

What is the unique selling proposition?

Does the company have a management team that can take it to market?

Is there a strong 'go to market strategy'?

Does the company make financial sense as an investment?

While household recycling is growing in popularity, public-space recycling has often lagged behind. Case in point, the Coalition for Resource Recovery says that New York City's accommodation, food service, and retail sectors alone send 2,400 tons of paper, metal, plastic, and glass to landfills each day. In the past we have talked about how Big Belly Solar helps make collection from public locations more cost effective through its solar powered compaction units.

"There's a tremendous opportunity to recycle more and make real strides on sustainability," said Bruce Buchan, CEO of CleanRiver™ Recycling Solutions, a division of Midpoint International, Inc. "The solution is for the public and private entities responsible for public spaces to explore a systematic approach to recycling and composting."

CleanRiver Recycling Solutions, which has produced recycling containers for businesses, colleges and public agencies for over 20 years, says that there are five primary steps to more effective public space recycling:

1. Assess the waste stream to establish a baseline and identify waste diversion targets. Review staff and financial requirements needed to support a program, and then negotiate with a collection contractor.

2. Selecting the right container is important, including the height, width and depth to accommodate traffic volume and to provide the right capacity for the collection schedule. Modular, interchangeable and configurable recycling bins easily adapt to changes in customer habits and the waste stream.

3. Location of recycling containers is key. Place recycling bins in areas with high traffic flow and pair side-by-side with garbage containers.

4. Straight forward communication. Recycling containers need simple graphics and instructions to guide the process.

5. Evaluate regularly to measure the success of the program on reducing waste and increasing recovery of recyclable material.

Major automotive manufacturers have been leaders when it comes to waste reduction initiatives, and they continue to work towards improvement. GM, for example, now has 81 zero-landfill production facilities, more than half of its 156 facility total, as well as 18 non-production locations. Meanwhile, FORD has announced its intention to cut solid waste by another 10 percent.

ecoATM has closed its series B investment round of approximately $17 million. The San Diego start-up with innovative kiosks that automate the buy-back of used mobile phones and other used portable electronics directly from consumers has announced that itCurrent investors Claremont Creek Ventures, Coinstar, Inc. and TAO Ventures all increased their investments while new investors have joined the syndicate. New investors include PI Holdings, Moore Venture Partners, AKS Capital and Singapore billionaire Koh Boon Hwee.

In addition, ecoATM announced it has been awarded a Phase II grant for up to $1 million from the National Science Foundation. The NSF received 171 Phase II proposals in July 2011, and ecoATM's grant was one of only about 60 Phase II Awards NSF granted in fiscal year 2012.

"ecoATM is poised for significant growth," said Randy Hawks, Managing Director, Claremont Creek Ventures. "The ecoATM kiosk system is already inspiring mass participation in electronics recycling and resale because unlike other options, it provides convenience and immediate cash incentive for consumers. With a kiosk network already spanning California and soon to be nationwide, ecoATM has already begun to forever alter the extremely wasteful life-cycle of consumer electronics in the US. We are very happy to be part of their team."

"It is exciting to take the next step of expanding ecoATM's footprint to the rest of the US. Over the past two years, ecoATM has built a network of approximately 50 kiosks in locations throughout California and beyond with tremendous consumer response," explained Tom Tullie, Chairman and CEO of ecoATM. "The new funding will enable mass commercialization and a national roll-out."