Green Planning: Recycling & Composting

Recycling:

At the Hotel (accommodations)

• Find out what recycling programs (if any) the facility has in place.
• Inquire if the facilities provide recycle bins in rooms and for meetings
• Check to see if the hotel has in-room recycling containers or is able to collect recycling items from the trash. If not, instruct attendees to bring any recyclables from their hotel room to the collection stations in the meeting areas of the hotel.
• click here for more on accommodations.

During the Exposition

• Find out what recycling programs (if any) the facility has in place.
• Try to find a vendor to donate “desktop” recycling bins for each exhibitor. Have volunteers empty recycling bins each night or ask exhibitors to empty them at large recycling stations in the hall.
• Set up recycling stations throughout the exposition hall for both exhibitors and attendees. Have these areas identified on the floorplan of the exposition hall that is printed in the program book.
• Provide exhibitors with maps of the recycling stations available during the exhibit hours and where the recycling stations will be during teardown. Have staff walk around and personally deliver maps and explain the recycling program. If this is not feasible, give maps to exhibitors at the Exhibitor Registration Desk.
• click here for more on on-site thoughts.

On Tours

• Tour coordinators should attempt to collect recyclables on the bus and take them to recycling containers at the convention center or hotels.

Sporting Events

• Any beverage containers (glass, plastic, aluminum cans) that are being served at sporting events (e.g. softball games) should be collected and recycled.

Other Venues

• Any other venues that are used in conjunction with the event should collect and recycle any waste being generated (i.e. paper from event materials, containers from beverage breaks, etc.)

Composting:

References:

• "The National Recycling Coalitions Green Meetings Policy"
• "Making your Conference Sustainable & Climate Neutral"
  by Marie-Claire Munnelly, 2007
• "EECOM Green Conference Guidelines"
• Convention Industry Council's Green Meetings Report

Contact Information

If you have general questions or comments, contact:
Shalini Suryanarayana (shalini@mtu.edu) and please put
"ESC Question/Comment" in the subject line.

Electronic mail

If you have any questions on the recycling program at Michigan Tech: recyclinginfo-l@mtu.edu

General Information: shalini@mtu.edu