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Green Event Certification
Overview
The City of San José formally recognizes events that strive to reduce environmental impacts and help the City to achieve its zero waste goals. By certifying your event, attendees and vendors make a positive contribution to the conservation of Earth’s resources while enjoying an important part of community life in San José. There is a choice of three certification levels that demonstrate commitment to green practices and rewards that achievement: Going Green Certification, Green Event Certification, and Zero Waste Event Certification.
Events held on public property (City-owned street, park, facility or site, etc.), with a daily attendance of at least 1,000 attendees that is open to the general public are eligible for Green Event Certification. Event organizers interested in obtaining this recognition 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. Event organizers that participate in the Green Event Grant automatically participate in this Green Event Certification, thus they will not complete a separate application. We want you to succeed! Please for assistance.
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Going Green Certification
San José’s Going Green events are taking the initial steps toward reducing environmental impacts. Going Green events will recycle a minimum 25% of the materials generated at the event that would otherwise go to landfill. To achieve certification, event organizers should implement these simple strategies:
- Implement a recycling program per the Outdoor Special Event Permit:
- Collect recyclable materials (glass, metal, plastic) from attendees in separate, appropriately-labeled containers (eco-stations)
- Collect recyclable materials (glass, metal, plastic, cardboard), lumber/pallets if applicable, and trash from F&B providers
- Send all recyclable materials to a recycling facility (event can self-haul to a recycling center, hire a collection service, or use the City-contracted service provider
- Implement the food & beverage (F&B) product requirements per the Outdoor Special Event Permit:
- Ban use of Polystyrene (also known as Styrofoam™ or #6 plastic products) which may be labeled with:
- Use #1 plastic cups (labeled with this symbol:
 ) for cold beverages 7 oz. and larger
- Use paper for cold beverage cups less than 7 oz.
- Use paper for condiment & sample cups
- Use paper for hot beverage cups of all sizes
- Require that all F&B providers post a sign at their booth showing the public how to dispose of materials (download vendor sign template).
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Green Event Certification
San José’s Green events are ready to take the next steps towards reducing their environmental impact. Green events will recycle and compost a minimum of 50% of the materials generated at the event that would otherwise go to landfill. To achieve Green Event Certification, event organizers should implement these strategies:
- Meet all Going Green requirements.
- Prevent and reduce waste by practicing sustainable purchasing by committing to at least one strategy.
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 serviceware and/or 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.
- Use approved compostable food serviceware.
Require F&B providers to use approved compostable food serviceware for all food service needs. This includes plates, bowls, sample and condiment cups, utensils, etc. (download product info sheet).
OR
Use reusable food ware.
- Compost all food scraps and compostable food serviceware.
Implement a compostable materials collection program and have trash sorted to separately recover food scraps, approved compostable food serviceware, and food-soiled paper for composting. Events must make arrangements to send all event trash and compostable materials to a compostable waste processing facility in lieu of landfill (must use a facility that is able to compost the required products above).
- Marketing and Public Outreach
This grant takes event greening one step further by going beyond waste diversion outreach. More specifically, you are required to include environmental messages (in addition to waste diversion messages) within the pre-event marketing via approved method and provide outreach to the public at the event about environmental messages (in addition to waste diversion messages) via approved method.
- 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
San José’s Zero Waste events consistently demonstrate a commitment to reduce their environmental impact to zero, or as close as practically possible. Zero Waste events will recycle and compost a minimum of 75% of the materials generated at the event that would otherwise go to landfill. In addition, Zero Waste events must meet all Green Event criteria and the following:
- Prohibit individual condiment packets (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, etc)
- Prohibit plastic stir sticks for hot beverages (use wooden stir sticks)
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.
Zero Waste events must also choose at least two of the following criteria:
- Prohibit non-recyclable/non-compostable materials.
Implement and enforce vendor agreement language banning all non-recyclable/non-compostable materials, including vendor give-away items (download sample vendor agreement language).
- 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 demonstrations.
- 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 bottles or cups at the event.
- Solar power generation.
Implement solar alternatives (panels, generators, stages, etc.) to generate electricity during your event.
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What is the Certification Process?
Step 1 – Apply: Complete and submit the One-Stop Shop online form according to the below timelines based on certification level:
- Going Green – 30 days prior to event
- Green Event – 45 days prior to event
- Zero Waste – 60 days prior to event
Step 2 – Review & Approval: Applications will be accepted continuously and reviewed for eligibility with the proposed certification level. The Zero Waste Events & Venues Team will contact you with notification of approval within 7 calendar days of receipt.
Step 3 – Monitoring & Assessment: After application approval, arrangements will be made for Zero Waste Events & Venues Team staff to attend appropriate planning meetings and an on-site evaluation will be scheduled to ensure the event has met all the certification criteria.
Step 4 – Report: Within 10 days after the event, submit proof of material disposal and diversion by weight and type. Additionally, submit a Post Event Report 45 days after the event. Both must be submitted via email to GreenEvents@sanjoseca.gov. You may be contacted by the Zero Waste Events & Venues Team with clarification questions after the review process before certification is awarded.
Step 5 – Award: If your certification is awarded, the Zero Waste Events & Venues Team will notify you of the certification award 15 calendar days after receipt of the Post Event Report.
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