Suggested Guidelines for Sustainable Outdoor Recreational Events

Any event can be successful and sustainable. Here are some ideas to help you get started. Even if you only implement a few, you will make a difference! All it takes is vision and commitment. A sustainable event conserves and restores resources, honors and supports those involved, adds value to the local economy, and educates participants about the

benefits of sustainability. 

Develop a one page summary of your event which includes the mission and objectives of your event.  This helps you and potential supporters identify WHY you are doing what you are. 

Set event goals, discuss criteria, outcomes, and means of measuring them. Meet at sites that are transit-accessible, walkable, or bikeable. Publicize your commitment to a sustainable event in your outreach materials and in your communications with sponsors, funders, and participants. 

The rest of your 1-page plan should describe the venue, type of activity, number of people expected, date, street closures needed, sponsors and other details of event.   Send this Vision/Strategy/Logistics summary to the groups you’ll be contacting to give them an overview of your event. You may need to obtain permits from county and city agencies well in advance of your event.

If your event is going to be held in a park in either Bellingham or Whatcom County, please contact the appropriate agency (insert link to list). Be aware that they appreciate and need at least a few months notice, that there may be fees to use park facilities, and that another group may already have that day or weekend reserved.

Step 3- Make Sure Materials Meet Your Standards

• Use email and your website when you can to publicize your event and save on paper. Use recycled paper when you can.
• Discuss your recycling/waste needs with the local vendor. Approximately 15% of waste is food which can be composted, and another 30% is paper that can be recycled.
• You can reduce your waste charges by taking advantage of recycling/composting. Make it a standard that all of your vendors use plates, cups, and utensils that can be recycled/composted.
• Have your recycle stations staffed by volunteers in shifts so that your recycling efforts do not wind up in the “garbage” because of cross contamination. Your volunteers can educate the public at the same time they are saving you money.
• Make sure your event can be accessed by mass transit in the area.
• Arrange a green fee for your participants to allow you to purchase carbon offsets.
• Aim for a zero waste event - for assistance, start here

Step 4-Educate Participants and Evaluate Your Event

• Publicize your recycling efforts to all the participants and ask them for assistance.
• Establish what your goals are for the event and keep accurate metrics that you can report out after the event.
• Ask your participants to evaluate your efforts in putting on a sustainable event.
• Post the results of your efforts on your website.