From sporting events to festivals and races, events in Charleston are waving the green flag with mixed results.  Charleston County Solid Waste and Recycling, Lowcountry Earth Force and The Sustainability Institute having been holding green events for years in the Charleston area.  It has only been in the last twelve months that green fever has taken hold!  After criticism from the Charleston City Paper, the Food and Wine Festival incorporated a more dramatic recycling effort into their events, shouting the results from the rooftops.  The South Eastern Wildlife Exposition also contacted Green Fair to help them improve their waste management efforts in 2009. 

Now I am the first to say that a little green is better than none at all and I am delighted by all the efforts made by existing events to improve their carbon footprint.  Where I start to get a little skeptical is when I see notoriously non-green events and organizations holding "green" nights simply to sell tickets or attract a potentially new audience.  While raising awareness of local and green businesses is very near to my heart, I think it is alway important to make an effort to walk the walk.  When I attend these "green" events and I am served a drink in a styrofoam cup and there are no recycling containers easily accessible, I feel a little tainted. 

Obviously not everyone has the ability to compost their waste and use solar energy to power their activities, but make no mistake, there are many things an event can do to be more eco-conscious when planning their green event.  Without manned waste management stations, large events have no chance to be able to control the amount of recyclables that get thrown in the landfill.  Even with a few scattered recycling bins, inevitably trash will get mixed in and recycling ends up in the always more plentiful trash cans.  Manpower and volunteers are essential to a successful recycling effort.  Well-marked tents or stations that force your attendees to toss their waste all in one area, preventing co-mingling of trash and recyclables.  It helps to have a volunteer there to share with them what items are recyclable (no plastic cups in Charleston County, people!) It is always a good idea to carry the theme through to your food and beverages by having food and drink provided by local farms and independently owned restaurants and even sustainable and organic brews!  Put the spotlight on local businesses by selling items that are purchased from local companies.  And most of all...just say no to styro!  Even if you do not buy the more expensive compostables, stick with paperboard for your plates and cups. 

If you need help truly greening your event, please contact us!  We have a full scale Resource and Recovery Program in the works to help make it easy to incorporate waste mangement into your event, large or small.  One example of really making the effort to go green is coming to Summerville on August 29th; The Race For the ARK.  A very popular 5K race that supports this wonderful facility for elderly and respite care,  who provide family support services to individuals with Alzheimer's and related dementia.  The 5K race begins at 7:45am on 206 Central Avenue and they have a family 1 mile walk that begins at 8:45am.  Race fees start at $10 in advance and they are really doing great things for the community and I will be there with a Green Fair Resource and Recovery Tent, supporting their efforts!  For more information on Race For The ARK CLICK HERE.  And don't forget to let these events know how much you appreciate and support their efforts.  Support them with your attendence and your entertainment dollars.   It does often require additional volunteers and paid staff, as well as a financial commitment to make these Resource and Recovery Programs a success!