Main Menu

Greener Events Guide

Use this checklist for tips, UMD resources, and contacts that can help ensure your event is green, ethical, and respectful to our community and environment.  From planning, day-of, and cleanup, check off ways to make events greener. 

Preparations and Planning:

Can the meeting be held via teleconference?

  • In planning your event or meeting, determine whether teleconferencing would be sufficient.  If the entire meeting cannot be done via teleconference, try to offer it as an option for some guests.  This will cut down on transportation emissions.

Pick a venue that can accommodate a green event

  • If you host your event on campus, you have access to green catering options from Good Tidings as well as requesting recycling and composting bins for your event space.
  • Talk to outside venues about whether they recycle or compost, whether they allow caterers to wash reusable china on-site or require disposable china, and what other green options they may have.

Choose greener catering – the food and how it’s served

  • Greener Food
    • UMD Dining Services defines sustainable food as local, fair, humane, and ecologically sound.
    • Ask Good Tidings or an outside caterer for information about local and seasonal food – and request these sustainable food options.
  • Greener Serveware
    • The most environmentally friendly option for plates, cutlery, cups, etc., is reusable china.  If that isn’t an option, most caterers – including our own Good Tidings – can provide compostable options. Be sure to steer clear of Styrofoam.
    • If using compostable plates and serveware for an on-campus event, be sure to request a temporary composting bin from recycle@umd.edu.
  • See this flyer for information on Goodies-to-Go’s recent green upgrades.

Ditch the disposables

  • Request coolers or pitchers of water (with reusable, recyclable or compostable cups) rather than individual plastic water bottles.
  • Prior to the event, encourage guests to bring their own reusable bottles (and coffee thermos!). Make sure there are locations for them to refill their bottles at the event.

Send electronic invitations instead of paper

  • Paperless Post offers a variety of free and low-cost electronic invitations.

Let your guests know about your green event

  • Remind guests about going green, to bring their reusable bottles, and to recycle and compost.
  • Encourage attendees to carpool or take public transportation.  Make sure attendees are aware of alternate transportation options available. DOTS Smart Commute can help you find ways to get around!

Advertise the event

  • Choose electronic or web marketing instead of fliers to reduce waste.

Request recycling and composting bins for the event

  • Contact Facilities Management at recycle@umd.edu or go to the website to request temporary recycling and compost bins for any on-campus event. https://sustainability.umd.edu/campus/waste
  • If you use an off-campus vendor, request that they have composting and recycling bins available.
  • See this flyer for information on what to compost at an event and how to arrange for temporary composting.

Day-Of:

Train all event staff or volunteers on waste sorting

  • Run through what can be recycled and what can be composted with any staff or volunteers who are helping with the event.  Not only will they dispose of waste properly, but they can also help other guests who need assistance. Review campus recycling at recycle.umd.edu

Provide signs for recycling and/or compost bins

  • Post signage with instructions on sorting composting and recycling for event staff and guests alike.  If your event is on campus, ask Facilities Management about signs or posters to go with the recycling and compost bins by emailing recycle@umd.edu. 

​Minimize or eliminate paper materials and other giveaways

  • Many conferences or events giveaway things like trinkets and paper products.  See what you can cut down on and scale back to what’s truly necessary. If you must, try to find an environmentally friendly reusable option.
  • Look for green gifts for speakers or presenters.  Instead of giving a product, consider giving the gift of an experience: a gift card to a local restaurant, tickets to a show at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, or something to do with your event or organizational goals.
  • Distribute papers and handouts with a flash drive or share them online through Drive or Box, instead of printing hard copies.

Cleanup and Post-Event:

Donate surplus food

  • Instead of disposing of uneaten food, donate it. If you need help, contact the Food Recovery Network, a UMD student volunteer group, to collect extra food from an on-campus or close-by event; they will pick it up and deliver it to local women’s, family, and homeless shelters.

Evaluate the event

  • Discuss what went well, what could be changed, and which green event strategies you will keep or modify for future events.
  • Gather feedback from attendees.  Use a short electronic survey to find out what your guests thought of the green aspects of the event.  Their input can help improve plans for future events.

 

Back to Top