Green Events Certification The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling Sustainability Office

Training Outline The Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards 1. Waste Reduction 2. Food and Beverage 3. Location 4. Transportation 5. Communication Greening Your Event

The Goals of a Green Event For the Carolina Green program Help the environment Promote sustainability throughout campus Spread awareness about green events UNC Carbon Neutrality by 2050 Teach students and staff how to be sustainable For your event specifically Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Waste Reduction – think zero waste! More composting, some recycling and almost no trash 360 green Promote green events Translate what you learn into how you live your daily life Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Green Event Standards

Green Event Standards According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Separated into two sections Basic Requirements for Green Events More Ideas for Green Events Green Shade Grade Light Green: 100% of Basic Requirements + 25% of More Ideas Medium Green: 100% of Basic Requirements + 50% of More Ideas Dark Green: 100% of Basic Requirements + 75% of More Ideas Five categories Waste Reduction Food and Beverage Location Transportation Communication N/A points aren’t subtracted Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

1. Waste Reduction

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Reduce Reuse Recycle and Compost Landfill Think about the amount of waste you produce How can you reduce your waste? Reuse Think about something you use and throw away everyday Can you reuse it or replace it with a reusable item? Recycle and Compost Make sure it’s actually recyclable or compostable Landfill Last resort! Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Recycling 101 Typical business offices generate about 1.5 pounds of waste paper per employee per day. Recycling 1 ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space Plastic trash makes up about 25 percent of the average landfill A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Recycling 101 RECYCLABLE NOT RECYCLABLE Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Recycling 101 RECYCLABLE NOT RECYCLABLE Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Recycling 101 RECYCLABLE NOT RECYCLABLE Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Recycling 101 RECYCLABLE NOT RECYCLABLE Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Composting 101 35% of the garbage (i.e. food, yard waste, paper) in landfills could have been composted – that’s 60 million tons! Instead of being buried forever in the landfill, compostable materials are turned into a valuable resource that enriches soil without the use of chemical fertilizers Enhances the physical structure of soil Reduces erosion and runoff, and use of pesticides Diverting these materials from landfill and recycling them prevents the generation of methane and reduces greenhouse gas emissions Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Composting 101 Compost is produced through the activity of aerobic (oxygen-requiring) microorganisms. “Compost is the product resulting from the controlled decomposition of organic material that has been sanitized through the generation of heat and stabilized to the point that it is beneficial to plant growth.” US Composting Council Carbon + Nitrogen + Air + Water = Compost Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Composting 101 Biodegradable ≠ Compostable Contamination of compost will ruin the decomposition process Learn what can and cannot go in the compost It is important to staff composting sites with volunteers at all times Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Composting 101 100% Compostable* ASTM D6400 ASTM D6868 * In a commercial composting facility Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

If it rots, it’s compostable! Composting 101 COMPOSTABLE NOT COMPOSTABLE If it rots, it’s compostable! YES: fruit and vegetable scraps; tea leaves and coffee grounds; egg shells; meat scraps; bones NO: if it rots, it composts Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Composting 101 COMPOSTABLE NOT COMPOSTABLE Goals of a Green Event YES: compostable plates, bowls, cups and utensils; shredded paper and newspaper; pizza boxes NO: plastic plates, bowls, cups and utensils; wax or poly-coated paper products Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Recyclable or Compostable Items Buy This, Not That! Reusable Items Recyclable or Compostable Items Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Buy This, Not That! Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Buy This, Not That! Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Buy This, Not That! At minimum, Carolina Green Events must have compostable plates, cups, utensils, serving dishes & napkins. Reusable items are preferred. Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Buy This, Not That! Compostable Products Green Products Aspenware (www.aspenware.ca) Birchware (www.birchware.com) EcoProducts (http://www.ecoproducts.com/) World Centric (worldcentric.org) Green Products TS Designs T-Shirts (tsdesigns.com) Twig (www.twigliving.com) Ten Thousand Villages (http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/) NC Craft Gallery (http://www.nccraftsgallery.com/) Stores to Avoid Costco Sysco Walmart Fast-food restaurants Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Non-Compostable Items (Costco) Serving Material Options Non-Compostable Items (Costco) Compostable Items Solo Cups - Cold (500 ct.) $62.60 World Centric 12oz cups (500 ct.) $55.00 Styrofoam - Hot (500 ct.) World Centric Hot Cups (500 ct.) $52.50 Dixie Bowls (500 ct.) $43.96 World Centric Bowls (500 ct.) $32.50 Dixie 9” Plates (500 ct.) $49.38 World Centric 9” plates (500 ct.) $57.50 $210.94 $197.50 Dixie Forks (500 ct.) $21.50 Aspenware Forks (500 ct.) $40.62 Dixie Knives (500 ct.) $16.50 Aspenware Knives (500 ct.) Dixie Spoons (500 ct.) Aspenware Spoons (500 ct.) TOTAL $54.50 $121.86 500 ct. Seventh Generation Napkins = $6.60 at Costco Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Waste Management Tips Preparing for your event According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Preparing for your event Announce waste disposal methods and locations Work with the venue and its waste management service Volunteers are staffing the compost and recycle bins Bins have clear signage Reusable and/or recycled/recyclable materials are used in booths There are no stand alone bins – group bins together Coordinate with OWRR about the # of compost and recycling bins needed Work with the caterers/food-preparers All aluminum and steel cans, glass and plastic bottles, and aluminum food trays and foil are recycled Mixed paper and newspaper are recycled Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Waste Management Tips Serving Methods According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Serving Methods Use reusable dishes, cups, utensils, napkins, tablecloths and other linens – back ups are compostable items Serving bowls and shakers are reusable At least 25% of snack foods are served in bulk rather than individual packages All condiments are in serving containers Use small plates for buffets Use wood stirrers and straws Do not use plastic wrap and other disposable packaging All food is served without garnish or garnish is edible Snack foods do not require utensils Other: reuse centerpieces and other event decorations after the event Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Waste Management Tips Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

2. Food and Beverage

Food and Beverage Menu According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Required 25-50% organic, fair trade or shade grown foods 25-50% vegetarian meal selections 25-50% of seafood is environmentally friendly* More ideas 50-100% organic, fair trade or shade grown foods At least 25% locally grown foods 50-100% vegetarian meal selections 50-100% of seafood is environmentally friendly* *http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Food and Beverage Education Leftovers According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Education Local and organic food is labeled as such Publicize/announce efforts by caterers to work with complying to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Leftovers Donate leftovers to a local food bank or soup kitchen Compost unusable leftover food portions or ship them to a local farm as pig feed Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Food and Beverage Local Farms Grocery Stores According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Local Farms Maple View Farm (dairy) Farmer’s Daughter (pastries and jams) Coonrock Farm (poultry, eggs, honey, sheep, goat, pork, produce) Peregrine Farm (flowers, small fruits, vegetables) Elysion Fields (vegetables and pork) Lyons Farm (fruit) Baldwin Farms (Charolais Beef) Whitted Bowers Farms (fruits and vegetables) Grocery Stores Carrboro Farmers’ Markets Weaver Street Market Whole Foods Organic and fair trade items from Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter, etc. Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

Food and Beverage Coffee Catering According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Coffee Larry’s Beans Counter-Culture Organic/fair trade sold at most grocery stores Catering Carolina Catering from CDS Garden of Eating Green Planet Catering The Catering Company Neal’s Deli Med Deli ACME Local 1.5.0. Goals of a Green Event Green Event Standards Waste Reduction Food and Beverage

3. Location

Location Required More Ideas According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Choose a destination that requires minimal travel for attendees More Ideas Hold the event during the day and/or in a location with natural lighting Hold the event outside (less light and decoration needed) Accommodations should be booked at a certified green/sustainable hotel Look for sites around the event that use environmentally friendly products Low-flow flush toilets Captured rainwater for irrigation and toilets Recycling Renewable energy uses Energy-efficient appliances and electronics Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

Location On UNC’s Campus According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Student Union Kenan-Flagler Business School Classrooms Outside (Polk Place, the Pit, etc.) Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

Location Near Chapel Hill Rizzo Conference Center The Siena Hotel According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Near Chapel Hill Rizzo Conference Center The Siena Hotel Umstead Hotel and Spa NC Botanical Gardens (LEED) Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

4. Transportation

Transportation Required More Ideas According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Required Display transit links prominently on the event’s website and other publicity materials More Ideas The event gives attendees incentives to travel via public transit The chosen venue has safe wand secure bike parking to encourage biking Low-emission vehicles are in use Hold meetings via telephone, video or internet to reduce transportation costs and impacts Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

5. Communication

Communication Required More Ideas According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Required Use at least 30% post-consumer recycled content List the amount of recycled content on all printed materials Do not use goldenrod or fluorescent-colored paper Use double-sided copying and printing More Ideas Reuse one-sided printed materials for internal printing Use soy or vegetable-based inks Use electronic advertising, promotion and registration whenever possible Use newspaper, organizational newsletters or radio rather than a direct mail publicity campaign Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

Communication Signage Mailing According to OWRR’s Green Event Standards Signage Signs and banners for recurring events are printed without dates Make them from recycled-content, recyclable or reusable materials Laminate signs so they can be used for future events Print banners on cloth instead of vinyl Mailing Use postcards to direct attendees to event’s website Addresses are printed directly onto envelopes, avoiding the use of address labels Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

Greening Your Event

Greening Your Event Become Green Event certified Notify us when you have your event At least 3 weeks in advance GreenEvents@facilities.unc.edu Fill out the Green Events Preliminary Checklist Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

Greening Your Event Location Transportation Greening Your Event Communication Greening Your Event

Greening Your Event Become Green Event certified Notify us when you have your event At least 3 weeks in advance GreenEvents@facilities.unc.edu Fill out the Green Events Preliminary Checklist We will assess your event’s Green Shade Grade and tell you how many compost/recycling bins you’ll need Follow the guidelines and your event will be Certified Carolina Green Complete the event statistics worksheet and return Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

Greening Your Event Initial Tips Think local, organic and fair Think about vegetarian options Reduce, Reuse, Recycle In initial call to vendors, mention going green Think about ways to educate attendees Location Transportation Communication Greening Your Event

The Outcome

Any Questions?

You’re officially trained to host Carolina Green certified events. Congratulations! You’re officially trained to host Carolina Green certified events.