Eco-Friendly Events
When you follow these practices
We'd like to hear about what you did - email us.
We'd also like to hear your questions, issues, and suggestions so we can improve them.
We'll provide you with a green sustainability star to display at events letting people know that you care AND take action.
We'll publicize your group's actions so others in town know - your group can serve as a model and influence others.
We want to let you know how much impact your changes are having - we're working on ways to convey that.
We're working on a plan to offer eco-friendly incentives to groups who follow these practices.
Download the Eco-Friendly Event Practices document and use it when you plan and hold events. We'd like to hear how it's working for you and are providing incentives for adopting these.
Here is additional information to help you implement the practices - there are no product endorsements in here, just examples:
Location
A venue might be able to provide pitchers for cream/milk rather than individual coffee creamers, as one example, especially if you ask.
Getting There
Share contact information with attendees to make it easy for them to share rides
Water
Did you know ...
The water bottling process releases hundreds of million of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually.
Disposable water bottle waste washes into the ocean and over a million marine creatures die each year from ingesting them. Those that don't die may contain plastic toxins that we ingest when we eat fish and seafood.
Plastic in water bottles takes hundreds of years to degrade and as the plastic degrades, it releases toxins into our land and water sources.
Your organization can borrow or buy a 10-gallon reusable water container, then let attendees refill their bottles from it, or provide paper cups for anyone who doesn't have a bottle.
If you need to have some single-use disposable water containers on hand, try Boxed Water (in cartons) or water in cans.
Food
Did you know ...
Consumers waste about 20% of their food.
Food is responsible for about 1/4 of the world's greenhouse gas emissions - details here on what's better.
Beef is responsible for 10 times more greenhouse gas emissions than poultry, and about 200 times more than nuts.
Cleaning Up
You can buy inexpensive special trash bags at local retailers and put them out for the DPW to pick up with your regular trash.
Black Earth Composting can provide composting for an event.
For a small event, have a current Black Earth customer purchase a package of BE Compost Stickers (5 for $35). Place the compost from the event into a brown yard waste bag, add the sticker to the outside, and set it out for pickup with the regular compost bin collection.
For a large event (1000+ people), you can contract with Black Earth to provide bins, help ensure they are used correctly, and pick up the bins after the event. Call Justin Sandler at 978-290-4610 for more information.
Giveaways
Consider how long someone will enjoy the giveaway compared to how long it will last in the environment. A candy wrapper may last 10 to 20 years and may release toxins as it degrades.
Balloons and confetti are not festive for the earth. Instead, use decorative chains and flags made from recycled paper, throw petals or seeds where appropriate, or other bideogradable decorations.
Handouts and Signs
You can use a sandwich board with reusable letters or even a chalkboard in place of some signs.