Waste Reduction

We are striving to host a zero-waste event and are working in close collaboration with Cal Poly’s Zero Waste Coalition. Some of specific strategies include:

• Reduce unneeded use of resources in non-usable give-aways and printed handouts. We are updating exhibitor confirmation letters to remind exhibitors not to bring non-usable give-aways and are asking speakers to send their handouts to use ahead of time so that we can post them online rather than having them printed.
• Ensure that as much as possible produced at the conference is recyclable or biodegradable and has high recycled content.
• Create a plan identifying all types of waste that will be created at the conference and how to reduce, reuse or recycle them.
• Provide tote bags made of recycled content material instead of using plastic bags to disseminate conference materials. The tote bags have been generously sponsored by CleanSource.

Food and Beverage Service

• Provide the maximum amount of organic and local food possible. We are working closely with Cal Poly Organic Farm and the Cal Poly Dining Services to identify local farmers to partner with. Much of the food for the conference will also be food which was grown or raised on Cal Poly land.
• Give each participant a mug on arriving at the conference, which they will be encouraged to use throughout their stay at Cal Poly. Volunteers will provide signage to remind participants to use their mugs.
• All meals will have a vegan option by request.

Energy

• Give an option to all registrants when they sign up for the conference, to offset their travel emissions through Climate Trust.
• Calculating the complete amount of CO2 created by the conference and will then pursuing donors to offset this amount.

Transportation

• Encourage participants to carpool, take the train or bus or bike to the conference. As conference organizers we have supported participants in doing this by providing information on alternative transportation and reminded participants of their many options.
• Encourage participants to stay on campus to avoid commutes between the hotel and the conference and to keep the cost of housing low.
• Use electric vehicles to transport supplies between buildings on campus.
• Over 50 students will be biking to the conference as a part of the student-organized Wheeled Migration. (www.wheeledmigration.org)

Hotels and Accommodations

• Encourage participants to stay on campus to avoid further commuting and to keep the cost of housing low.
• Choose hotels to make room blocks with, which were taking some actions towards sustainability or who were open to doing so.
• Select hotels to reserve rooms with that are less than five miles away from the campus.
• Identify low cost housing options for students. More information on this can be found at: http://sustainability.calpoly.edu/accommodations_alternative.htm

Staff/Volunteers at the Event

• Providing training to all staff and volunteers on environmental policies of the conference, particularly the clean-up crew.

Recognition and Awareness

• Give away drawing tickets to participants who are caught “green-handed” helping make the event more sustainable. Prizes will be given away during the final plenary to selected drawing ticket holders.
• Offer resources that we used to green the conference on the website.
• Keep track of what went right and what went wrong regarding waste and energy use for the days of the conference and improve our practices for following years.

Feedback

• Ask participants what worked and what didn’t in terms of greening on the evaluation forms.
• Create evaluation for exhibitors, event staff, hotels, etc. so that they can give feedback on greening and offer new ideas.

To make this happen we will need your help! Please remind yourself and help others to remember to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Resources

EPA Green Event Checklist
Green Meetings Report Convention Industry Council
NRC Green Meetings Guide
Sustainable Meeting Guide
W.E.R.C. Whole Earth Festival (WEF)

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