Robert E. Bradley

Consulting Engineer, Boy Scouts of America

Aneli Nuteren

Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Todd MacFadden

P2 Technical Specialist, Montana P2 Program

Jody Lehner

National Recycling Coalition

i
Resources

“Waste not, want not.”

2 Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
2

1

It is important to address public health when planning a food-service component to your environmen

tally aware meeting or event. Local health departments are able to provide advice and guidance on safe an

proper handling of food and drink.
F

your organization, community, or

region. Next, select environmental

priorities reflecting those particular issues.

Finally, determine the amount of effort

your management will dedicate to meeting the priorities.

Clearly defined environmental priorities will help you identify the specific

actions you can take to meet these objectives. The planning checklist at the end of

this guide can help you set and meet these

priorities.

If your event does not take place in a

facility with recycling and food service 

contracts already in place, remember to

share your environmental priorities with the

potential contractors:

n Incorporate priorities in the contract.

n Let reluctant contractors know that you

can shop around for other contractors

that will meet your environmental 

priorities.

n Consider incorporating incentives into 

contracts, such as sharing profits from

the sale of recyclables.
ties, for example, look for a naturally lit

site offering comprehensive recycling col

lection and mass transit services.

Arranging for Food Service

Select food service providers that use

reusable serviceware, or sell products tha

come in recyclable, little, or no packagin

A careful head count of attendees will

reduce preparation of unnecessary meals

frequently as possible. They provided straws

and drink stirrers only upon request.

Exhibitors were kept informed of exact

attendance levels so that they would bring

the correct number of distribution materials,

to cut down on the amount of materials that

might be thrown away after the event.

NRC started looking at the environmental

impacts of its yearly meetings in 1990 and

has increased its efforts every year since.

Environmental priorities have become a matter of policy for NRC’s events and meetings.

4
CU Recycling promotes active recycling in the stadium in a variety of ways. Before the games,

recycling staff with handcarts rove the parking lots to collect recyclables from tailgate parties and

inform the partygoers about the environmental savings to which they’re contributing, such as sav

ing a gallon and a half of gas by recycling a case of aluminum cans. Other recyclable materials ar

separated by concessions or stadium staff. CU Recycling runs ads in the game programs and in

the game-day edition of the campus newspaper to remind people to recycle. They also sponsor

media spots featuring Buffalo team members promoting the recycling program. These efforts

enable CU Recycling to recover and recycle 20 percent of the stadium’s waste.

To make sure CU Recycling is reaping the economic benefit of diverting waste from disposal,

the program carefully monitors trash disposal containers before pick-up. This enables CU Recyclin

to reduce the volume and cost of its trash disposal contract. Looking to the future, the cleanup

crews and CU’s Design School are working to design a collection container with separate compar

ments for trash and recyclables that clean-up crews can carry with them.
polls asking respondents to comment on

the environmental aspects of the event.

Also, seek suggestions to improve the

environmental quality of your next even

Promoting Environmental Achievemen

Inform management, shareholders,

sponsors, contractors, and the public abo

your success using your internal newslette

bulletin board system, or annual report.

Prepare press releases highlighting the 

environmental results of your event.

6
___________________________________________________

Conserving Energy and Reducing Traffic

❑ Seek naturally lighted meeting and exhibit spaces.

❑ Publicize mass transportation options.

❑ Provide shuttle service from mass transit stops or hotels to the event sit

❑ Other actions: ________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________
❑ Reward participation by communicating environmental savings

achieved.

❑ Other actions: ________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Other Environmental Priorities

❑ ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

8
019), June 1996; Construction Products (EPA530-F-96-020), June 1996.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Environmentally Preferable Products; Proposed

Guidance. (EPA744-F-94-002) September 1995.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Waste

Prevention, Recycling, and Composting Opportunities. Washington, DC, 1995.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Green Meetings Fact Sheet.

Washington, DC, 1994.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Running a Conference as a Clean Product.

Washington, DC, 1991.

William McDonnough Architects. The Hannover Principles: Designs for Sustainability.

New York, NY, 1992.