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‘‘We have to identify things that we can do to diminish our footprint on the Earth,” Goldman said.

Sustainable living means using as few natural resources as possible so the next generation has resources available, said Ed Hopkins, director of the Sierra Club’s Environmental Quality Program.

The project’s most ambitious goal was highlighted by Robin McBride, director of asset management for Federal Realty Investment Trust of Rockville, whose holdings include the multi-use Bethesda Row.

‘‘As part of our green-zone efforts, we’ve had meetings with restaurants to take their used oil to make biodiesel fuels,” McBride said. ‘‘All of these places have tons of grease, and this way it could be used for something.”

Goldman’s larger goal for the biodiesel project is for the Bethesda Circulator, a free downtown bus, to run on the recycled fuel.

Another simple solution to reduce waste is streetside recycling, which Goldman said is sorely lacking in Bethesda.

‘‘People may recycle at home, but there is no place for consumers on the street to recycle,” he said.

Goldman recommended the addition of recycling bins next to trashcans on streets in the central business district.

Bethesda Urban Partnership, a nonprofit that promotes and maintains downtown Bethesda, providing trash pickup and other services, said it would be willing to help.

‘‘We’re known for our red, but we’re OK with going green,” said David Dabney, the group’s executive director, referring to its trademark red shirts. ‘‘If we could help with recycling, it would be great for the area.”

Goldman also hopes to add 1,000 bike racks in downtown Bethesda to accommodate two-wheeled commuters and perhaps persuade others to switch.

The announcement of the green zone coincided with the opening of Honest Tea’s new complex on Bethesda Avenue, and was attended by various county and state officials. According to Stacy Mattson, a spokeswoman for Honest Tea, the new space was constructed using recovered brick and recycled bamboo for the floors and, to reduce air conditioning use, all windows in the space will open.

‘‘When the private and public sectors have similar goals, like clean environments and reducing trash, it just makes sense for the government to support the businesses that do something,” said Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D).

Goldman said the program shouldn’t cost much.

‘‘Bike racks aren’t that expensive, and neither are recycling bins,” he said. ‘‘The biodiesel project may be more expensive, but it will be worth it.”

The money will come from Bethesda, according to Montgomery County Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park.

‘‘It’s not Olney or Gaithersburg that would be paying. It’s fees from parking in Bethesda,” Leventhal said. ‘‘It’s for Bethesda and would get paid for by Bethesda.”

The county has an arrangement with the Bethesda Urban Partnership, under which parking funds go to the group.

No timetable has been set for the beginning of the project, Goldman said.

With $25 million in annual sales, Honest Tea is the best-selling organic bottled tea in the United States, according to Goldman. It was recently listed as one of the 500 Fastest Growing Companies in America by Inc. magazine.

This report originally appeared in The Business Gazette.