Planning for Zero Waste Events

Iowa Recycling Association, Annual Conference University of Iowa, Eric Holthaus

10-14-15

This is our challenge.

sustainability.uiowa.edu

This is our approach.

This is our potential.

35%

30%

11%

24% Single-streamrecycling

Compost

Trash liners

Landfill

Our work needs to address two foundational areas.

Physical environment: Our surroundings speak our values. Social environment: The people on our campus are knowledgeable about reducing waste and advocate.

Recycling Optimization Projects

Public setup

Classrooms – no bins

Conference rooms – paired bins

TINY TRASH

The Hawkeye Way

Planning for Zero Waste Events

Where the importance of the physical and social environment cannot be overlooked.

10 years ago…

Event recycling did not happen.

No bins, no mission, tenuous interest.

Today

Good things Mission

Dedicated staff Successful zero waste events

Challenges Ownership of waste minimization

Demand outpacing supply

Dance Marathon • 100s of volunteers and

attendees • Sustainability Committee • Materials checklist • Map of setup • Training for committee,

by sustainability office • Training for volunteers,

by committee • Back-of-house trash,

recycle, and compost

Kinnick Stadium • 100s of students, parents,

and coaches • 7:00 a.m. in the morning • Complexity • Many moving parts • Many outreach attempts • Attention from ADs

Move Out • 100s of students, minimal

planning for move-out • Partners: Goodwill, Crisis

Center, Housing, Eco Hawks, Alternative Spring Break

• List of materials • Move-out truck available

every day of the week • Increase diversion 5X • Advertisement from UH&D

critical

Year Goodwill and Habitat ReStore

Crisis Center

2012 3,733lbs 3,250lbs

2013 5,250 3,000

2014 2,563 3,551

2015 17,545 3,613

Not a good practice • An Event Planning Form is

used to schedule events and accommodations.

• A person can make the selection “Yes, I want to compost at this event.”

• That has lead to a situation where bins are set up without attention to detail.

What we’re up to now

Laying infrastructure Creating resources

Transitioning responsibility Researching purchasing policies