The Importance of Waste Audits in the Event Industry - Moving Towards Zero Waste

By Veronica Carrillo

By the time you read this, 56 pagers in 45 countries will have published a front-page editorial guided by the Guardian of London. The editorial will call global climate change a "profound emergency" with requires immediate action. It claims there are no replays regarding climate change: "Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security." I took a master's level college course on the environment back in the early 90's, and I remember the main theme of our textbook was that our environment is such a complicated system that it is not only more complex than we know, it's more complex than we can ever know. That has stuck with me ever since.

The science behind global warming and climate change is extremely complex. Arguments abound about how, and even if, it is really a crisis at all. But, if you look at the data behind this gargantuan topic, it is extremely difficult to explain away what is happening before our very eyes, and even all that is not visible to the naked eye. Temperatures are rising, glaciers and ice fields are melting, the oceans are warming, the weather is changing in many locales, species of animals and plant life are disappearing or being profoundly altered. Gigantic clouds of methane gas are potentially being released from below thawing ice on a scale that is just now beginning to be measured. One thing is certain: 11 of the last 14 years have been the warmest on record.

A high diversion rate means that most of the waste generated by the event is staying out of the landfill. An event with a 100% diversion rate is considered to be zero-waste. If composting and recycling is an option at your event then a diversion rate between 65-75% should be easy. With proper planning and an educated staff, a diversion rate of 75-85% percent would be quite good. A rate above that, approaching true "Zero-Waste" or 100% diversion, would take full cooperation of event planners, staff, and participants, and would be considered outstanding.

There are three categories of waste in a typical waste stream: compostable material, recyclables, and trash. Compostables are any food items that are no longer fit for human consumption (food waste) as well as other items which must be marked biodegradable: bags, napkins, plates, cups, and tableware. These compostables are sent to a facility to be broken down into organic soils and fertilizers. Recycling is a concept that most people are familiar with and includes the processing of bottles, cans, cardboard and paper products for reuse.

Most died from malnutrition and those that made their return to Buffalo National Park in Canada arrived in such poor condition and had very little breeding success. Out of 63 nests only 22 chicks fledged. Hopefully the recent rains will improve their habitat at the Aransas Reserve along the Texas gulf of Mexico and the ones that return to Canada nest Spring will be in good shape for a better breeding season.

(Note:) The definition of an estuary is where salty sea water meets the land and mixes with the fresh water from creeks and rivers. They are the nursery grounds for our marine organisms such as fish, shrimp, crabs, mussels, clams and such. They are not only important to out wildlife but ultimately to our own existence.

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