Greening the Iowa Recycling and Solid Waste Management Conference

1
Greening the Iowa Recycling and Solid Waste
Management Conference

• Jen Jordan
• Iowa City Recycling Coordinator
• October 6, 2009

2
Most important

• Talk with the venue and let them know that
  greening is a priority
• Venues may not be able to do everything youd
  like be creative, flexible and willing to help
  make it happen
• Have one point of contact on each side

3
Areas to consider

• Recycling and food waste collection
• Food and beverage options
• Printed materials
• Communication
• Goodie bags
• Carbon sponsor
• Hotel efforts

4
Recycling collection

• Most venues have some recycling in place
• Supplement with portable bins (paper,
  cans/bottles)
• Be willing to provide extra bins and labor
• Know where materials are going

5
Food waste collection

• Food waste collection is new for most venues
• Some venues have food reuse programs for employee
  meals or other local food reuse programs (Ramada)
• Be willing to provide labor, bins, bags,
  transportation, compost facility
• Know what facility or partner has available
• Recycle Clear providing containers
• Know what you have to provide
• buckets and liners for kitchen
• Know where materials are going (to ICLF)

6
Food and beverage options

• Choose F/B options carefully to minimize waste
  (eg dessert for afternoon snack)
• Durable china
• Cloth napkins
• Local foods when possible
• No bottled water

7
Printed materials

• Use 100 post consumer content recycled paper
• Use double-sided photocopies
• Presentations by speakers can be collected
  electronically and posted on the conference
  website

8
Communication

• Conduct communication via electronic means
• Program information and registration materials
  can be made available on the conference website
• Durable signs
• Durable banners
• Reusable name badge holders (Dont forget to turn
  in your name badge holder at the end of the
  conference!)

9
Skip the goodie bags

• Reduce waste dont pass out give-aways or
  unnecessary items
• Instead, pick up only the information you want in
  the Exhibit Hall.

10
Carbon sponsor

• Resource Recycling Systems, the conference Carbon
  Sponsor, is evaluating the conference carbon
  footprint and will purchase carbon credits to
  offset our impact.

11
Hotel efforts

• Towel and sheet reuse program
• Save staff time, water, detergent
• Energy efficiency efforts (back of house)
• Healthy meals (staff and guests)
• Work out facility for staff and guests
• Encourage alternative transportation for staff
• Bike racks, locker rooms, bus stops close by

12
Other tips

• Utilize partners and give them the advertising
  they deserve
• Much appreciation to
• Recycle Clear
• for providing bins and signage throughout the
  conference hotel and convention center!
• And to
• Resource Recycling Systems
• the conference Carbon Sponsor.

13
Thanks!

• Thank you to all who have made the Iowa Recycling
  and Solid Waste Management Conference a GREEN
  event!