Be A Gold Medal Event Planner By Taking A Lesson From The London Olympics

Sustainability and green events are a hot topic right now. Event planners can learn a lot about how to make their affairs more environmentally friendly by looking at the challenges faced and solutions found by organizers of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Recycle Early And Often

Countries that host the Olympics have to be prepared to house an enormous number of athletes and spectators, leading to massive construction projects. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games used recycled and repurposed metal in construction and used only 10% of the virgin steel needed for construction at the last Olympics in Beijing. They implemented natural lighting architecture and locally-sourced, sustainable timber to minimize the environmental impact of the project.

Your event probably covers a smaller geographical area than the Olympics, but you can still repurpose and recycle items from past events to decrease your need for new purchases. Find sustainable alternatives such as compostable cups and use food from local farms. Of course you should also place enough recycling containers to handle any recyclable waste generated.

Effortless Recycling

Olympic organizers in partnership with Coca Cola have placed hundreds of brand new recycling containers throughout the Westminster area in preparation for the enormous crowds headed for London. Their goal was to recycle 11,000 metric tons of waste per day during the games and beyond. These containers will remain after the 2012 Olympics are over so Londoners will find it easy to dispose of metal and plastic containers responsibly.

Plan for plenty of recycling containers throughout your event. Always place recycling bins and trashcans together to minimize the chance someone will use the wrong receptacle. Consider traffic and trash production when planning the layout of bins. You will need more disposal bins in a busy food court than you will at the edge of the property.

What Went Wrong?

London Olympic organizers are dealing with the same frustrating problem all event planners have to face: intermingled waste streams. Guests throw recyclables in the trash or throw trash into recycling containers. You can’t force your guests to use the proper containers but you can make it as easy as possible for them to do the right thing.

Ensure you have sufficient volunteers and staff to empty the containers before they become full. Put the recycle bins in easily visible locations. We understand you don’t want the bins to detract from your efforts to decorate for this wedding, picnic or other activity, which is why we offer recycle bins in a variety of colors to match your decor. We want our products to be conspicuous but not distracting.

Recycling has two more big benefits for your organization: lower expenses and better public image. Include Waste Wise recycling containers at your next event for your benefit, and the benefit of the environment.