Secrets to Green Events (Part 1)
The Council’s first large special event was the Run for Clean Air in 1981. Since then, the Run has grown into Philadelphia’s largest Earth Day event and we’ve added more events like Greenfest Philly and Dine Out for the Environment. Tens of thousands of people attend these events annually. The recent Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and the Rio Olympics have shined a spotlight on the resources needed to produce large events and their potential for waste. After years of trial and error, the Council has developed some easy and cost-effective ways to reduce the impact of events. These common sense practices can even be scaled down and used in homes and offices.
Ban the Bottle
More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day. Because of their convenience and low cost, many events – especially athletic events – rely on 16 oz and 24 oz bottles of water to keep attendees hydrated. For over a decade, the Council has “banned the bottle” and used large jugs of water with compostable cups. In 2014 the Council went a step further, partnering with MOM’s Organic Market who donated over 50 5-gallon BPA free reusable water jugs. The Council fills them up for each event at a local MOM’s store. Water for the Run for Clean Air is poured into compostable cups and water for Greenfest Philly is distributed through “Water Bottle Refill Stations” in the form of on-site coolers. This practice keeps attendees healthy and hydrated while sending no waste to the landfill.
Compost and Recycle
On average, Americans recycle and compost about 34% of their waste – with the rest still going to landfills and incinerators. The Council’s events provide easy to find and use recycling and composting bins – and sort the waste after the event to make sure less than 20% is landfilled or incinerated. Making sure event goers understand which materials go in each bin reduces confusion and makes people more likely to recycle and compost.
Get off the Grid
Solar isn’t just for roofs. Many equipment companies now offer the option of solar powered generators. Solar-powered generators provide reliable power wherever it’s needed. Consolidated Solar provides solar energy for Clean Air Council events. Solar is also silent and emissions free! Nothing kills an event vibe like a gas-powered generator noisily spewing fumes into the air. Solar generators create visual interest and can be a fun attraction placed in the center of the event.
Source Responsibly
From shirts to bottles, to bags, events give away thousands of items. Invest in items made from recycled materials and manufactured in the USA. Our event shirts are made from post-industrial cottons and post-consumer polyester, saving millions of gallons of water, petroleum, agrochemicals and CO2 emissions. Plus, people love to know that their shirt used to be a plastic bottle!
Promote Carpools, Clean Vehicles, Bikes, and Public Transit
A truly green event starts before the attendees arrive. The Council encourages biking and makes cyclists feel like VIP at every event with a free bicycle valet. Sponsored by Philadelphia Insurance Companies, the valet takes the hassle and worry out of bike parking at our events. Another great option is to encourage attendees to take public transportation. Choose an event space that is easily accessible by public transit and provide information about nearby public transit routes. Parking in Philadelphia is often expensive and limited, so event attendees are encouraged to carpool when public transit and biking aren’t options. Provide VIP carpool spaces and parking for hybrid and plug-in vehicles.
For more tips and tricks, read Part 2 next week.
