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Certification Program
Event Certification Criteria
The City of San José will recognize events that go the extra mile to reduce their impact on the environment and bring the City closer to its zero waste goal. The City formally acknowledges three categories of events that demonstrate commitment to green practices and rewards that achievement with one of the following certifications: Going Green Certification, Green Event Certification, and Zero Waste Event Certification.
By certifying your event, attendees and vendors will know that while they are having fun, they are also helping conserve the earth’s resources for future generations.
Event planners interested in obtaining recognition for their event need to complete and submit a Certification Application 30 days prior to the event, meet the criteria for the level of certification desired, and meet all reporting and policy requirements. We want you to succeed, so if you have questions or need assistance, please
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For more information on reporting requirements, please visit Policies and Reporting Requirements.
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Going Green Certification
Going Green events in San José are taking steps towards reducing their environmental impact. Going Green events will recycle a minimum of 25% of the materials that would otherwise go to landfill. To achieve this standard, event organizers must:
- Implement a recycling program.
Arrange for a recycling collection service or collect and recycle bottles, cans, plastics, and cardboard separate from waste. Visit Recycling & Compost Collection for more information.
- Use recyclable #1 plastic cups.
Require vendors, caterers and samplers to use recyclable #1 plastic cups for beverages, samples, condiments, etc. Visit Best Greening Practices to see examples of contact language to help implement this practice.
- Pick up litter at event and protect all storm drains from discharges.
Litter can fall into storm drains during events and be carried to creeks, rivers or the Bay when it rains. Help protect the environment by covering any open storm drains and assigning staff or volunteers to pick up litter during your event.
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Green Event Certification
San José’s Green events are ready to take the next steps towards reducing their environmental impacts. Green events should expect to recycle and compost a minimum of 50% of the materials generated at the event. In addition, Green events must meet all of the following requirements:
- Meet all Going Green requirements.
- Prevent and reduce waste by practicing sustainable purchasing.
There are many ways to prevent and reduce waste with a little planning and communication. Examples are provided here for reference only, and only scratch the surface of possibilities:
- Use reusables instead of disposables for food and decor
- Borrow materials from another event instead of purchasing new materials
- Print posters or conference guides on minimum 30% post-consumer recycled content paper with soy-based inks
- Limit give-aways and materials in goodie-bags, etc.
- Visit Best Greening Practices for more tips.
- Use compostable food service ware and ban the use of expanded polystyrene.
Require vendors, caterers and samplers to use compostable food service ware for all food service needs. This includes plates, bowls, forks, sample and condiment cups, etc. Exceptions: Aluminum foil may be used for wraps or sandwiches. Plastic recyclable cups should be used for beverages. These items can be recycled. Visit Product & Material Information for more information about compostable and recyclable products.
- Compost organics.
Implement a compostable materials collection program OR have waste sorted to recover food scraps, compostable food service ware, and food-soiled paper for composting. Event must make arrangements to have organic materials processed at a Commercial Composting Facility. Visit Recycling & Compost Collection for more information.
- Educate participants.
Develop and execute an education campaign prior to and during the event to ensure that event stakeholders and event attendees are aware of your greening efforts. Visit Best Greening Practices for more information.
- Provide adequate staff.
Provide sufficient volunteer and/or paid staff to implement and manage the waste reduction, recycling, composting, sorting, and education activities for the event.
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Zero Waste Certification
A Zero Waste event consistently demonstrates a commitment to reducing their environmental impact to zero, or as close as practically possible. Zero Waste events should expect to recycle and compost more than 75% of the materials discarded. These events must meet all Green Event requirements and at least two of the following criteria:
- Prohibit non-recyclable/ non-compostable materials.
Implement and enforce vendor contract language banning all non-recyclable/non- compostable materials, including vendor give-away items.
- Recycle cooking oil and charcoal.
Provide used cooking oil and charcoal collection and recycling for all food vendors. Implement and enforce vendor contract language requiring all vendors that generate waste cooking oil and/or charcoal to recycle materials correctly.
- Offset your event’s impact.
Calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of the event and purchase (or find a sponsor to purchase) carbon offsets from a certified carbon offset broker.
- Engage event attendees and vendors.
Provide an interactive activity to raise awareness and help event attendees bring your green message home. Examples include alternative fuel vehicle or hybrid vehicle demonstrations, compact fluorescent light give-aways, provide take-back collection services for hard-to-dispose-of items like batteries and cell phones, or home-composting demonstration.
- Ban the sale of single use plastic water bottles.
Prohibit the sale of water in plastic single use bottles, provide water filling stations, and encourage attendees to use reusable or recyclable cups at the event.
- Solar power generation.
Implement solar alternatives (panels, generators, stages, etc.) to generate electricity during your event.
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Certification Application
Event planners interested in obtaining recognition for their event need to complete and submit a Certification Application 30 days prior to the event, meet the criteria for the level of certification desired, and meet all reporting requirements. We want you to succeed, so if you have questions or need assistance, please .
Archive of Certified Events
Zero Waste Events
Green Events
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