Zero Waste: How To Plan a Zero Waste Event

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• Zero Waste Home
• Zero Waste Facilities Handbook (pdf)
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• How To Plan an Zero Waste Event
• Looking for a Zero Waste Caterer?
• Catering Guide
• Buying Compostable
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How to Make Your Party Zero Waste

• Sodexo Catered Event (University Catering)
  1. Check the zero waste option when signing up for a Sodexo catered event on line
  2. R4 and Sodexo will take care of all of the zero waste planning for you HASSLE FREE!
• Any Other Catering Service/Uncatered Event
  1. Buy compostable supplies via Supply Express, see Options and Pricing for most cost information.
  2. For an event with 50 people or less, consider making a Zero Waste Fun Pack at Supply Express:
     • 50 biodegradable spoons, forks, knives, cups, napkins, plates
     • 1 compost bag
     • 1 Can Liner
  3. If you want compost and recycling stations set up and removed, call
     • Buildings and Grounds (752-6741), if your event is ourdoors OR
     • Custodial (752-9053), if your event is indoors
     • Also see the Event Planner's Guide To Working with Buildings and Grounds for information on additional services offered.
     
     Otherwise, you are free to drop off your compost bag in any yellow compost cart on campus, and likewise for your bottles and cans.

Tips to Make Your Event Zero Waste

• Reduce Waste From Presentations
  1. Place your printed materials including agendas on line and give people the choice of printing.
  2. Start educating your participants and attendees so they won't expect the printouts.
  3. Avoid Styrofoam and other petroleum products (NO plastics #3-7) regardless of how cheap you find them at discount houses. Styrofoam will never, in its infinite life, be able to biodegrade; the aerated plastic will always contaminate the environment, so never buy styrofoam.
  4. Use Eco-X board instead of foam core for posters. Eco-X board is about 92% recycled paper material. No wax or polyethylene is used in its manufacture, as is in foam core.
  5. Recycle vinyl banners
• Think Green
  1. Allow for online registration to be a fast any easy way to register on time. Limit walk in registrations.
  2. Go to the extra mile and look out for recycled products, (such as office supplies)
  3. Encourage exhibitors to provide only sustainable "give-away's".
• Pick Green Vendors and Caterers
  1. Give reasonable portions to help prevent food wasting
  2. Hire vendors who are committed to the green movement which includes buying local and organic when you can.
  3. Work with caterers who work with local, sustainable farmers. Ask where they get their food.
  4. Compost or donate all uneaten food along with any other compostable items
  5. Buy food and flowers that is in season and local. for example, flowers grown in distant locations are often subjected to 17 different chemicals to guarantee "bloom on demand" and this puts the workers at risk too.
• Bring Your Own Mug
  1. Avoid individual drink and food containers. This is becoming a faux pas in the industry. Provide water stations and paper cups.
  2. Encourage your participants to bring their own drinking cups whenever possible.
  3. Consider china instead of plasticware. Ask about the detergents used in cleaning up afterwards.
• Optimize the Recycling and Waste Stations
  1. Set up clearly marked recycle areas and consider having volunteers to monitor those stations.
  2. Consider using the word LANDFILL instead of the innocuous TRASH. There needs to be a reminder to mention where all our trash ends up and how trash opposes the Zero Waste goal. Most people will think twice when they see the word landfill.
• More Tips
  1. Ask vendors to collect cardboard on their return trips to your department instead of paying another vendor to do this.
  2. Buy in bulk whenever possible. Start refusing to buy in individual containers to force the market to start changing.
  3. Consider composting at home or even in the office.

Thanks to Plant Sciences Event Planners, UC Cooperative Extension for most of these ideas.