| Hosting a green event or workshop is not only | | | | Does your venue have recycling bins for paper, cans |
| important, it is easy to get started. Most people will | | | | and plastic bottles? If so, be sure to use them and |
| shy away from planning a full-fledged green event, | | | | encourage your attendees to use them as well. |
| fearing it will be too hard or too cost prohibitive. | | | | Ditch the Disposables. |
| However, we have to start somewhere. Even if you | | | | Use water pitchers and glasses, rather than single use |
| implement just 1 of these tips to make your event | | | | water bottles or plastic cups. On your break station, |
| or workshop greener and use it consistently, you will | | | | provide real plates and silverware. |
| make a big impact. | | | | Reduce Your Handouts. |
| Although I am not a "tree hugger", I do appreciate | | | | If you must print handouts, do so on recycled paper, |
| the environment and want to do my part for Mother | | | | printed on both sides. Alternately, provide your |
| Earth. Actually, close to 20 years ago, in honor of | | | | attendees with a website, where they can download |
| Earth Day, I started recycling. Back then, my | | | | the documents. |
| apartment complex had no recycling bin, so every | | | | Go Local. |
| few weeks I took all my newspapers, cans and | | | | Request meals made with produce that is in season |
| plastic and glass bottles to the recycling drop off | | | | and is grown locally. Ideally, the chef has his own |
| point. It is a lot easier now that I just have to bring | | | | vegetable and herb garden on-site, otherwise |
| my overflowing recycling bin to the curb every week. | | | | produce from local farmers reduces your carbon |
| I don't know how many tons of waste I kept out of | | | | footprint dramatically. |
| the landfills, but it must be considerable over the | | | | Donate. |
| years. If an event or workshop is in your future, | | | | Donate un-served meals to a local food bank or use |
| here are 7 simple tips to keep your event green and | | | | it for compost. |
| sustainable. | | | | Carpool. |
| Choose a LEED Certified Venue. | | | | Use a venue that is closer to where most of your |
| If your venue is LEED Certified, you can be confident | | | | attendees live. You will reduce the need for air travel |
| that the venue has made great strides in energy and | | | | and commuting. Encourage car pooling or provide a |
| water conservation and indoor air quality. In addition, | | | | van for van pooling from a central location. |
| they focus on reducing waste as much as possible | | | | Of course, some tips are easier to implement than |
| by recycling and clean with environmentally friendly | | | | others, but the idea is to start thinking about it. Then |
| cleaning agents. Unfortunately, many venues are not | | | | implement one way to make your event or |
| yet LEED certified, but there are plenty of other | | | | workshop a little greener and more sustainable. Over |
| ways for you to work with your venue to make | | | | time, you will make a big impact. Where are you |
| your event green. | | | | making small changes that add up? |
| Recycle. | | | | |