University of Wyoming Zero Waste Event Guide What is Zero Waste?

“Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use”

Zero Waste means --Zero Waste International Alliance designing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate waste, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. The goal is to reach 90% diversion through actions such as resource reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.

Table of Contents

Pre-Event Planning 3

During Event  4 After Event 5 Contact List 6 Pre-Event Planning In order to get your event started, answer these 7 easy questions and make initial contact with the appropriate people.

Where is your How large is your Is your event event event? multiple days? 1located? 2 3 UNION: <250 PEOPLE: YES: You will likely need 2 recycling Coordinate where and Contact: bins, 2 compost bins, and 1 when bin pick-up will be with landfill bin. facilities. Union Events Staff [email protected] >250 PEOPLE: NO: (307) 766-3161 Talk with contact from You will likely need 4 recycling question 1 about where bins Inform them that bins and 4 compost bins. need to be placed at the you are planning a end of event. Zero Waste event. Discuss questions 2 and 3. Will your event have Will your food? event have 4 swag items? ANYWHERE ELSE: YES: 5  Contact your caterer about making your Contact: event vegan*. YES: Crystal Bennett  Use reusable dishware, silverware and Contact vendors [email protected] linens (UW Catering offers these services). ahead of time. (307) 766-6717  Contact ACRES for composting options Instruct them to: at: [email protected] Inform her you are  promote your planning a Zero  Contact attendees asking them to BYOE event online as Waste event. (bring your own everything). possible Discuss with her NO: Be prepared for outside food and  put free items on a question 2 and 3. dishware. It will probably all have to table to be picked go in the landfill. up at will instead of handed out  reduce what they Want marketing Still have questions bring materials? or need help? 7  reduce packaging 6 for what they bring YES: YES: Contact Sustainability Club for Contact the Sustainability Club Contact attendees hard and soft copies of pre- for logistic and training advice and encourage made signs and sign ideas. at: [email protected] them to take only NO: NO: NO: Don’t worry about it (but Don’t worry about it (but we’re we recommend it). always here if you need us). Don’t worry about it.

*ACRES student farm only accepts non-animal products for their composting purposes for food safety reasons, therefore any meals you serve must be vegan During Event Once you set up your bins, it is important to have at least one volunteer directing people to place their waste in the correct receptacles. Use this guide to help you determine what goes where.

Recycling Compost Landfill

 Paper (mixed, white,  Vegetable Scraps  Coffee cups and other news)  Fruit “compostable” to-go  Cardboard  Egg Shells items, paper napkins,  Plastics 1 & 2 with lids  Tea Bags paper towels, etc.***  Top of pizza boxes  Coffee Grounds  Food Wrappers  NO GLASS**  NO MEAT***  Straws  NO DAIRY***  Greasy food containers  NO COMPOSTABLE (like bottoms of pizza OR PAPER TO-GO boxes) ITEMS***  Glass**  Food: meat, dairy, bread & processed snacks

* On campus only **No glass recycling in Laramie. Options include taking glass to Colorado or looking for glass recycling days from the Wyoming Conservation Corps (WCC). *** ACRES student farm only accepts non-animal products for their composting purposes for food safety reasons Tips and Tricks Challenges may arise during your event, use these tips and tricks to keep everything running smoothly.

Consider covering Post landfill containers signs around with an easily your event removable cover, like a about the purpose Do not get piece of cardboard. of Zero Waste and frustrated The slight obstacle signs directing if things are not causes people to stop people where to going as expected. and think about what put their waste. This is a learning they are throwing process for away. This is a great everybody, but you opportunity to display can overcome any instructional signs too! complications. Communication is important with attendees. Some people may be confused and even frustrated with Zero Waste procedures at first. Be patient and take the time to show them how to use the waste station. Be open towards them and thank them for their help.

Not sure if it’s Need more recyclable? information? Do not panic! Look for the Watch: recycling symbol on the item; if it https://goo.gl/photos/ is not present, it is most likely not VGpFeGBE1sq5e3677 recyclable. or visit the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) web site. Not sure if it’s compostable? A good rule of thumb is if it cannot be grown, it cannot be composted. After Event Once your event is over, follow this chart to take the necessary steps to wrap up the Zero Waste part of your event.

Make sure to clean up any Tie off bags and make sure additional resources around they are in the right location to your site and distribute them to be picked up by facilities. the correct bins.

If you borrowed signs, or if you made reusable signs, please leave them with the Sustainability Club so that they can be used for other events.

Call ACRES for compost pickup if you have food waste.

MOST IMPORTANT: Celebrate your success! Share pictures of your event through social media and contact the Sustainability Club and Campus Sustainability Committee about your awesome efforts. Contact List*

Department Category Name E-mail Phone #

Union Venue [email protected] (307) 766-3161 Events Staff Central Venue Crystal Bennett [email protected] (307) 766-6717 Scheduling

Facilities/ Recycling/ [email protected] (307) 766-3590 Recycling Landfill

ACRES Urszula Norton (compost Food Waste [email protected] (307) 766-5196 (advisor) student farm)

Food Waste/ UW Catering Reusable Derek Jones [email protected] (307) 766-2050 & Events Dishware

Sustainability Help/ [email protected] Club Advertising

Soup Kitchen Food Waste Ted Cramer [email protected] (307) 460-1605

Campus Help/ Sustainability [email protected] Advertising Committee

Wyoming Glass Conservation Collection [email protected] (307) 766-3048 Corps Days

*Please be aware staff and contact positions are always subject to change, individual contacts my vary.

If you have comments or suggestions regarding this guideline, contact the Sustainability Club. We love your input! - [email protected]