How to keep your event out of the landfill

The Town of Charlotte has a new policy aimed at reducing and sorting waste. Our town “is dedicated to making all events in public spaces as waste free as possible by collecting in three streams: compost, recycling and trash.” (See Waste Management at Town Facilities  April 2014.)

We like to think that Vermont is “green,” but Chittenden County residents still send materials to the landfill that can be recycled, composted, or reclaimed for better reuse. An estimated 34 percent of landfill “waste” is recyclable and 26 percent is compostable.  This means that 60 percent of materials we’ve sent to the landfill don’t belong there.

A little planning goes a long way. Not only can we improve our “sorting” to keep reusable resources out of the landfill, but we can also get better at reducing our single use habits. We live in a convenience driven “take out” society, but there are more sustainable options. Here are some ideas to reduce landfill “waste” from events held in Charlotte:

• Choose reusable plates, utensils, cups, and packaging whenever possible. If not possible, choose compostable or recyclable containers or minimally packaged goods instead. Compostable food ware is preferable to using recyclable plastic, because the remaining food stuck on plastic contaminates the recycling stream.Confirm what can and cannot be composted. It’s easy! Here’s all the information you need:  http://www.greenmountaincompost.com/all-about-compost/what-is-compostable/compostable-products/

• Confirm what can and cannot be recycled.  http://cswd.net/content-blocks/chittenden-county-mandatory-recyclables/

• Avoid single use and non-recyclable items bound for landfill: plastic bags of any kind, plastic utensils, Styrofoam, small single-serve packaging (wrappers, condiments, etc.).

• Plan ahead; communicate your landfill-free goals to everybody involved in the event, including vendors and attendees. Help them understand what items to use (and avoid) at the event, to reach this goal.

• Create one or more “sorting stations” with one recycling bin, one compost container and one trash can right next to each other. Hot tip: tape samples of items right on the bins they go in.  It’s the clearest way to help everyone sort their materials properly.

Please print and use signs at the sorting stations: available at http://cswd.net/event-waste-reduction/.

Plan to take compost to a CSWD drop-off center, or contact afoulk@gmavt.net about alternatives.

Thank you for showing how much you care for the community by making it a habit to keep your events out of the landfill.