Community Events Go Green By Valerie Longa EcoTeam
Community Events Go Green! By: Valerie Longa Eco-Team Coordinator Alabama Coastal Foundation
ACF’S MISSION To improve and protect Alabama’s coastal environment through cooperation, education and participation.
ACF’S MISSION • COOPERATION: Bringing together stakeholders with differing interests to facilitate mutually beneficial solutions; inclusive environmental stewardship. • EDUCATION: Providing fair and factual information to educate current and future leaders; • PARTICIPATION: Offering hands-on volunteer opportunities for people to play a role in preserving our
Create a Clean Water Future For a Clean Water Future in Alabama, visit and take action: www. Clean. Water. Future. com
Create a Clean Water Future Background: • Cooperative Partnership • Our challenge is to adopt habits at home, work and play that turn the tide of pollution, then share those habits with friends, family and community leaders. • Prevention & Collection
Oyster Shell Recycling Program • National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Grant • Based off of programs in Galveston & New Orleans • Recycled oysters will go back into AL waters to help more oysters grow, provide habitat, limit erosion and improve water quality.
Eco-Team • Dedicated to reducing waste at the city’s largest downtown events through recycling. • Recycling becomes further integrated into the city and creates a generational change where recycling is an expected behavior. • Less litter ending up in waste stream due to recycling. • Less litter ending up in local waterways (stormwater runoff) due to greater options for throwing away trash and volunteer efforts. • Increase in public awareness about recycling and environmental stewardship in the Mobile area. • Sustainability efforts create cleaner, more efficient events.
Coastal Alabama Green Events Planning Guide • Free Downloadwww. join. ACF. org • Green Events Planning Guide, City of Vancouver and Greenest City 2020 Green Events, 2013 • Green Meeting Guide 2009, United Nations Environment Programme • Checklist • Area Recycling Companies & Centers
A Green Event minimizes the impact on the environment through thoughtful planning and implementation.
Assess the Event • Reducing Waste • Recycling • Composting • Vendors • Greening Transportation • Reducing Energy & Offsetting Emissions • Marketing
Marketing • Media Release • TV, Print, Radio, Social Media • Recruit Volunteers • Promote Sustainability Efforts • Be specific about actions the public can take. • Signage & Online Resources
Recommendations • Building Relationships • Increasing Sustainability Annually • Strong Volunteer Base • Maximize Resources • Don’t Be Discouraged, Stay Positive
Benefits of Greening Events • Save Money • Positive Public Relations • Education & Awareness • Increasing Best Practices • Regional & State Influence
Questions?
Contact Information: Email – vlonga@join. ACF. org ACF’s Phone Number: 251 -990 -6002 www. join. ACF. org
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