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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Green Event Standards

5. 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

6. 1. Waste Reduction

7. 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

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

9. 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

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

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

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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. 2. Food and Beverage

30. 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* *
Goals of a Green Event
Green Event Standards
Waste Reduction
Food and Beverage

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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
Goals of a Green Event
Green Event Standards
Waste Reduction
Food and Beverage

34. 3. Location

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 4. Transportation

39. 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

40. 5. Communication

41. 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

42. 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

43. Greening Your Event

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

45. Greening Your Event Location Transportation Greening Your Event
Communication
Greening Your Event

46. Greening Your Event Become Green Event certified
Notify us when you have your event
At least 3 weeks in advance
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

47. 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

48. The Outcome

49. Any Questions?

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