Make your next campus event or gathering more sustainable. Review these guidelines with your event committee or ask Campus Sustainability to attend a planning session to discuss ways to reduce waste and make it a “go green” event (Sustainability@brooklyn.cuny.edu). Following these tips will help the campus achieve its sustainability goals of reducing generation of single-use-plastic waste on campus.
Beverages/Water
- Encourage participants to bring their own reusable bottles to the event
- Serve water and beverages in pitchers/coolers and offer paper cups.
- Collect any plastic waste for recycling
- Choose canned soft drinks over plastic bottles
- Request a 5-gallon water jug from BC Water (bcwater@brooklyn.cuny.edu) for your next event and purchase a stand with dispenser (run about $20-25 on Amazon) or a Pressure Hand Pump (run about $10) to set up hydration stations.
Food/Catering/Events
- Request reusable or compostable cutlery, dinnerware, and glassware
- Request cloth linens or go with bare tables
- Use condiment or sauce dispensers instead of small single-use condiment packets
- Select items that are foil or paper wrapped to reduce plastic use or buy in bulk
- Provide tin foil, compostable or reusable to-go containers for leftovers
- Donate non-expired sandwiches, and cooked meals to a local soup kitchen or shelter e.g., Chips (9-11am, Mon-Sat), or sign-up at rescuingleftovercuisine.org or email them at info@rescuingleftovercuisine.org for more information (they pick-up leftovers to distribute to people in need).
- Cater or pre-portion food ahead of time to minimize food waste
- Consider providing food options for guests or attendees with alternative diets, this could be a part of the rsvp questionnaire. If most of the attendees request vegan or kosher options, order portions accordingly to avoid over-ordering and food waste. Plant-based foods are accommodating to many dietary restrictions, which will allow your guests to feel a greater sense of belonging at your event.
- Reducing emissions from food and beverages can mostly be done by choosing vegetarian and vegan options. Choosing local providers can cut even more emissions from transportation and focuses your menu on what is seasonally available.
- Choose bulk catering over individually-packaged portions. Finger foods and passed
hor d’oeuvres can also eliminate the need for utensils.
Giveaways/Décor/Swag
- Order items in bulk to reduce waste
- Avoid single-use décor. Decorate with reusable or rentable materials
- Buy reusable durable items
- Ask campus partners to donate artwork, supplies, etc. for decorations
- If items come individually wrapped, place the recyclable plastic in the recycling bin.
- Reevaluate doing giveaways and opt for more digital giveaways (discounts, e-tickets, etc.)
- Choose items that are either durable, purposeful, and/or sustainable e.g., high recycled content
- Opt for recycled content or organic fabric for clothing apparel material
- Use recyclable/reusable/compostable paper-like flags, banners, confetti, and pom poms
Communications/Signage
- Advertise that the event adheres to “Go Green” guidelines
- Send notices and invites electronically instead of via hard copy
- Use a presentation outlet (PowerPoint, Prezi, Google Slides) instead of printed materials
- Use signage that could be erased and reused (whiteboards/chalkboards)
- Paint over old signs and create a new background for a new signage
- Make information and agendas available in an application or website
- If physical copies are needed, choose recycled or compostable paper
- Reuse name tag holders at events to use them for future events
- Incorporate virtual/phone meetings to reduce traveling and carbon footprint
Waste Management/Clean Up
- Request that ample recycling bins are placed in the event area
- Donate (if possible) leftover meals or allow guests to take extra food home
- Notify Facilities (or the venue manager) if additional cleaning or waste management is required
- Consider sourcing compostable, reusable and or recyclable materials, and when possible, avoid printed materials and use digital event applications
Providing Safe Drinking Water for Large Events
To cater water to larger events, there are a couple of options:
- Canned or boxed water in bulk instead of plastic water bottles
- Domestic tap water
- Identify a safe, reliable water source / fixture
- If filling from an outside spigot, use food grade NSF 61 compliant water hoses
- Consider filtering water to improve taste
- Dispense using:5-10 gallon insulated sports coolers5-gallon
- carboys with dispenser accessories
- Water tanks e.g. Water Monster tank 125 gallons
- Vendor-provided water stations e.g. Event Water Solutions, Quench Buggy
Food Waste Reduction Amendment
New (9/29/22)
Local Law 146: Commercial Organic Waste Law
Specifying establishments must separate organic waste and arrange for removal from using a private service, self-transport to organic waste facility, or manage on-site using a DSNY department-approved method.
Food/Catering/Events
- Catering Establishments hosting on-site events to be attended by more than 100 people, most provide organic waste disposal service.
- Temporary Public Events to be attended by more than 500 people, must follow local law 146: Commercial Organic Waste Law guidance.
Waste Management/Clean Up
- Provide separate bins for the disposal of organic waste
- Post instructions on the proper separation of organic waste
- For small events, check out DSNY website for compost drop-off times and locations near campus e.g. Flatbush Junction Food Scrap Drop-off, from 8:30-2:30 pm.
Communication/Signage
- Post a prominently displayed sign near the premises’ main entrance which clearly states the business name, address, and telephone number (this clause does not apply to sponsors of temporary public events).
- That sign must also state whether the establishment provides for on-site processing, or state the day and time the organic waste is either picked up by a private carter or otherwise transported by the establishment to a processing facility.
References
https://sustainable.columbia.edu/content/sustainable-event-guidelines
https://www.nyu.edu/life/sustainability/resources/green-events-standard/green-events-checklist.html