10/03/2024
We were happy to collaborate with Citizens for Conservation on their recent Ignite the Night fundraising event. It’s so gratifying to partner with their team and show that large, low-waste events really are possible with some careful planning.
This biennial outdoor event attracts close to 500 attendees, and includes dinner and drinks. The entire planning team worked hard to minimize waste - from transporting chili in slow cookers to delivering food on reusable platters. In lieu of plastic cutlery, they provided silverware - which can be purchased inexpensively at thrift stores and reused, year after year. At the bar, they opted for recyclable aluminum cans and a large water dispenser to prevent plastic waste.
We set up two full waste stations and two smaller ones - in the bar and near the food preparation station - all staffed by our amazing volunteers. 🤩
We weighed all the waste at the end of the night, and here are the results:
♻️ Recycling (cans &bottles): 165.4 lbs
🌱 Compost (compostable paper products, napkins, and food scraps): 56.5 lbs
🧊 Plastic Film (ice bags and overwrap): 4.2 lbs.
💧 Liquid: 3.2 lbs.
And drumroll please…
🗑️ Landfill (wrappers, tape, etc.): 1.4 lbs.
That means we were able to reduce our landfill total from two years ago (1.5 lbs.), which we didn’t think possible. We shouldn’t have doubted, because this is one committed crew!
This is an accomplishment everyone can feel good about, from planners to attendees. Large events don’t have to feed landfills!
Many thanks to Collective Resource Compost Cooperative for transporting the compost. You made the logistics feasible, and we’re so grateful! If you’re looking for food scrap collection from your home or business, reach out to Collective Resource - they have a wide (and ever-widening) service area.
Congratulations to all on a successful event - see you in 2026! 🌕 🔥 🎶
