The Office for Sustainability (OFS) has launched a new resource aimed at taking a leadership role in the University of Arkansas’ goal of becoming a zero waste institution by 2021.
Any department or organization planning on-campus events can now hold zero waste events. The process consists of three simple steps: Register, Host, and Report. Event planners can visit the new Zero Waste Events webpage to access all the information they will need.
First, planners should fill out the registration form to inform the OFS of their upcoming event and to request any needed equipment. The OFS has made its supply of ClearStream recycling containers, scales and other materials available for checkout, free of charge.
Online planners will find a useful guide to hosting a successful zero waste event, including signs for print.
The hosting department or organization will weigh the total recyclables and waste from the event, and then record the results through the brief online reporting form. This will allow the OFS to confirm that 90% or more of the total waste was diverted from the landfill, thereby determining a successful zero waste event.
To support departments and organizations, the OFS will help to promote all registered events using social media. Departments and organizations that achieve successful zero waste events will be featured on a Zero Waste Hall of Fame webpage in recognition of their efforts.
In addition, OFS interns are available to consult with event planners in regards to hosting a zero waste event.
Zero waste events provide students, faculty and staff an opportunity to have a positive impact on the environment and to help the UA achieve its sustainability goals.
“It is our hope that this will lead to an increase in zero waste events around campus,” said Carlos Ochoa, Director of the Office for Sustainability.
The University of Arkansas signed The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007. As part of this commitment, the UA committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 and zero waste by 2021.
The OFS has implemented two strategies, aversion and diversion, to help the university achieve this goal. Aversion prevents waste before it happens through source reduction and recovery. Diversion keeps waste out of the landfill through recycling and composting.
The online zero waste event resource is the next phase in the university’s zero waste strategy.
For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/1BvIhEA or contact the OFS at 479-575-4784 or sustain@uark.edu.