VOLUNTEERS GOING GREEN PART FIVE

By Florence May, TRS

Thinking about how volunteers can reduce environmental impact during an event?

I've gathered a few ideas from event organizers, volunteers and private consultants to help you get started.

At the brainstorming phase, some events are hosting online green competitions or hiring consultants to find the best "go green" plan for their specific venue and operations.  Getting input from your sponsors, waste management company and utlilities may also generate great ideas.

In the early implementation stage, many organizers are forming volunteer green teams with a focus on "reduce, reuse and recycle" as part of their core organizational mission.

Consider certification. During the 2010 NAIA Championship Cities Conference, 360 Architecture and WIN for KC presented a remarkable case study about their pursuit to get their Triathlon certified by Council for Responsible Sport.

Check out the certification program at http://www.resport.org/ to learn how your event can measure improvement in the areas of waste, climate, equipment and materials, community and outreach, health promotion and innovation.

Here are a few ideas generated by event volunteer managers at two recent TRS workshops:

1/ Ask volunteers to bring their own water bottle. Event organizers must supply readily available water refill stations for this to be effective. (Saves $$)

2/ Talk to your volunteer t-shirt vendors. Shirts made of recycled and bio-degradable materials are now readily available.

3/ Go paperless. Volunteers can register online. Also put your volunteer SOP or volunteer guide on your website or registration site. (Saves $$ and time.)

4/ Eliminate snail mail. Confirm volunteer schedules automatically online. Send waivers, maps and updates by e-mail. Most online registration systems have these features. (Saves $$ and time.)

5/ Recycle. Ask your waste management company to bring in recycling bins (or use different colors of garbage bags for regular and recyle trash).  Collect volunteer credentials after the event to repurpose.

6/ Create volunteer t-shirts that will be re-worn because they are clever and fit right! (Great event promo!)

• The Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati has volunteer t-shirts are coveted. The printing is basic. They simply say “the Grunt Squad”.
• No too tight or baby tees. Not a good look on the majority of the population.
• Tight supply? Have a t-shirt trading table. If shirts don’t fit request a trade by size.
• Choose attractive colors. Would you wear flourescent yellow or construction zone orange again?

7/ Set up volunteer car or shuttle pools online. Check out http://www.pickuppal.org/.

8/ Establish a beautification program with the neighborhood surrounding the event facility. In the weeks prior to your event have volunteers plant trees, bushes or flowers. Ask the neighbors to join in and help with picking up trash. (Community spirit!)

9/ Bring in fresh food for the volunteers. Ask vendors to eliminate wrappings and packaging as much as possible. Make certain all plates, cups and silverware are made of recyclable materials or reusable. If possible source the food from within 250 miles or set up a mini farmers market. (Healthy!)

10/ Ask volunteers to help keep electricity use to what is required. Turn off lights when not needed.


This is also an opportunity to learn from other events.

Get your staff, sponsors and volunteers involved.
Ask for ideas on how to make your site/event more green!

Please post your volunteer go green ideas below!

The above Go Green ideas are part of an article for an International Festival and Event Association magazine article, Volunteer Management Best Practices: Going Green (Part 5). The article was authored and is owned by Florence May, President of TRS.