Greening AASHE 2008

Greening AASHE 2008

AASHE is taking every opportunity to align this conference with its sustainability values. In addition to hosting AASHE 2008 in the LEED-registered Raleigh Convention Center, and offsetting all GHG emissions from the conference (see Conference & Expo Carbon Offsets), we are incorporating a wide variety of waste minimization and diversion policies and energy efficiency strategies to minimize the conference’s negative impact on the environment and society. 

Through Duke Energy’s generous sponsorship of the event greening, AASHE is able to dedicate significant effort and planning to ensure that greater than 93% of the event’s waste will be diverted to compost and recycling centers, and that the generation of waste will be minimized on every level.

Landfill Diversion & Resource Recovery

Throughout the conference guests will be provided with dozens of opportunities to make socially and environmentally responsible decisions.  In place of trash cans guests will find Resource Recovery Stations, with separate bins for “compostable items,” “recyclables,” “gray-water” and “landfill.”  Items that are often thrown away will instead be captured from the waste stream and recycled or composted.

Each Resource Recover Station will be staffed by a friendly volunteer trained to assist conference guests to deposit their items in the appropriate bin.  In addition, in a back-of-house operation, volunteers will resort each bin of collected items to ensure against contamination and achieve the highest purity and waste diversion ratio possible.

Compost

The EPA estimates that nearly 30% of our nation’s waste could be composted and turned into a simple organic product that can be used to supply organic nutrients and fertilizers to farmers, stabilize erosion and mitigate topsoil loss, and help to reduce global warming by avoiding methane production from landfills.  By composting our organic waste, we are also helping to lessen the strain on our over-burdened landfills.   

Recyclables

Recycling is vitally important for institutions and organizations that produce massive amounts of waste.  AASHE’s recycling program will reflect the opportunities available through Raleigh’s residential recycling program, and our Resource Recovery Station hosts will be on hand to assist in assigning items to the correct bin. 

The following items will be collected at AASHE 2008:

• newspaper and inserts
• magazines and catalogs
• white paper and mixed paper
• corrugated cardboard pieces cut down to 3' x 3' in size
• paperboard, chipboard, and paper tubes
• steel & tin cans
• aluminum foil and trays (completely free of food debris) 
• plastic bottles
• plastic beverage rings (soft type only, not rigid type)
• glass food and beverage containers
• gable-top cartons
• aseptic drink boxes (Tetra-Pak)
• electronic waste

AASHE is making many other efforts to minimize the amount of waste produced by the conference and expo:

• The majority of our outreach is being done electronically.
• When printing materials, AASHE is selecting methods that minimize waste.
• Presentations and hand-outs will be made available only online.
• Keynote speakers have been asked not to distribute handouts, but to make them available electronically.
• Conference attendees are being encouraged to bring their own conference bags and refillable water bottles or mugs. 
• Water stations for refilling bottles will be available at the Convention Center. 
• Name badges will be recyclable.
• All event signage will be recycled and/or reused.
• The Expo has been intentionally located in a large, carpeted ballroom to eliminate the need for temporary carpeting.

Energy Conservation and GHG Mitigation

• LEED-Registered Venue - selecting a LEED-Registered convention center for the conference was the first step in minimizing energy resources as well as our carbon footprint.
• Service Vendors - throughout the planning of the conference, AASHE has made every effort to use service providers with sustainable values.
• Printing - AASHE used a printer that is 100% wind-powered to print conference postcards.
• Travel - AASHE is facilitating carpooling and hotel room-shares.  For campus tours and hotel shuttle service, AASHE will provide biodiesel transportation through Greenway Transit.
• Carbon Offsets - AASHE will offset most of the GHG emissions created by the conference.

Catering 

Centerplate, the designated caterer for the Raleigh Convention Center, has made a strong commitment to sustainable catering:

• Most produce will be locally sourced
• Whenever possible, organic food will be served
• AASHE and Centerplate are working together to ensure that there are ample vegetarian options and that red meat will not be served. 
• All efforts will be made to reduce food waste, both pre- and post-consumer.
• All leftover food will be composted
• Remaining, un-served food will be donated to a local Interfaith Food Shelter
• All coffee and tea beverages will be fair-trade certified and organic
• No disposables will be used, including napkins and cups
• Tables were specifically purchased that do not require linens.  They are made out of a brushed stainless steel, eliminating the need for linens to cover the table tops which saves both water and energy.
• No single-serving beverages bottles will be used
• Catering staff receive health insurance, paid vacations and 401k benefits

Other Environmental and Socially Responsible Practices

• AASHE selected a printer for the conference program that has three green certifications:  FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), PEFC (The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative Certification). 
• When printing promotional materials, AASHE and Seven-Star specified wherever possible 100% vegetable-based inks and 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and limited the number of printed promotional materials.  The Conference Program will be printed on FSC certified, recycled paper was used for the conference program.   Click here for more information about FSC certified, recycled paper.  
• AASHE has strived to be as inclusive as possible with this conference, from accommodating special needs to setting reasonable registration fees, to encouraging a diversity of presentations and attendees.

Hotel Policies

Marriott

AASHE has asked the Marriott Hotel to incorporate environmentally-conscious procedures and practices including waste minimization, energy saving measures, and recycling.

Clarion

Environmental practices implemented within the last year include:

• Each room contains signage to promote the linen and towel reuse program
• Low wattage light bulbs are used throughout the hotel where applicable
• Low Flow shower heads are used in all guest rooms
• The kitchen and housekeeping departments recycle all plastics, glass and aluminum
• Cooking grease is donated in order to be made into bio-fuel
• Reusable service ware is used for all banquet and meeting functions

Red Roof Inn

The Inn has a "Save the Planet" program that lets guests know their bed linen will not be changed daily for water conservation purposes, and asks them to reuse bath towels at least twice.  Plastic waste from rooms is separated out for recycling. The hotel recycles cardboard, paper, and plastic.