| |
Green Event Grant
Goal and Purpose of the Grant
The Green Event Grant was created to help off-set potential increased costs for events that seek to reduce their impact on the environment through separate collection of recyclable and compostable materials. The program was implemented in January 2010 by approval of the City of San José’s City Council. The intent of the Green Event Grant is to provide financial assistance in order to increase the number of San José events that divert waste from the landfill, thus helping move the City closer to its Green Vision Goal of 100% waste diversion (Zero Waste) by 2022.
Return to top
Who is Eligible to Apply for a Green Event Grant?
Event Organizers conducting an event 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 the Green Event Grant.
Return to top
What are the Grant Requirements?
In addition to the Outdoor Special Event Permit requirements, grant applicants must meet the following grant requirements:
- Reporting:
- Green Event Grant Application with attachments due 60 days prior to the event
- Proof of material disposal and diversion by weight and type due within 10 days of the event conclusion
- Post Event Report due with attachments within 45 days of the event conclusion
- Food & Beverage (F&B) products (download product info sheet):
- 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* or approved compostable material for cold beverage cups less than 7 oz.
- Use paper* or approved compostable material for condiment & sample cups
- Use paper* or approved compostable material for hot beverage cups of all sizes
- Use paper or approved compostable material for food serviceware
- Include the relevant requirements in the vendor agreements (download sample vendor agreement language).
- Send an email, copying GreenEvents@sanjoseca.gov, to all F&B providers with product requirements within one week after the vendor agreement is signed (download sample vendor agreement language).
- Collect glass*, metal*, plastic*, food scraps, paper/compostable serviceware, and trash from attendees in separate, appropriately-labeled containers (eco-stations).
- Collect glass*, metal*, plastic*, cardboard*, food scraps, paper/compostable serviceware, lumber/pallets if applicable, and trash from food and beverage providers.
- Assign or hire a person as the onsite material manager for material management separate from the event organizer. Both the material manager and the event organizer must attend a free Green Event Workshop offered by the Zero Waste Events & Venues Team (those that have completed the workshop are exempt).
- 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)
- 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).
- Include environmental messages (in addition to waste diversion messages) within your pre-event marketing via approved method
- Provide public outreach at the event about environmental messages (in addition to waste diversion messages) via approved method.
- Post a sign at each F&B provider’s booth that shows the public how to dispose of materials (download vendor sign template).
- Choose either the “Green Event” or the “Zero Waste” certification level (grant applicants are automatically eligible for one of these levels under the City of San José's Green Event Certification) and promote the event’s certification goal pre- and post-event using the logo provided by the Zero Waste Events & Venues Team.
* Per Outdoor Special Event Permit
Return to top
What are the Qualifying Expenses for Grant Funding?
- Cost of staff or hired onsite material manager
- Cost of staff to collect and sort recyclable material and compostable material** (sorting at the eco-station locations)
- Cost of staff to collect and sort recyclable material and compostable material (sorting behind the scenes at the Dumpster/bin location)
- Cost of staff to transport, set-up, teardown, and clean-up eco-stations**
- Cost of Dumpster/bin services only for: compostable material and recyclable material (glass**, metal**, plastic**, cardboard, and lumber/pallets)
- Cost of compostable waste processing facility to sort trash for compostable material and recyclable material
- Cost of “BPI certified compostable” utensils – up to $100 per F&B provider booth depending on food type (note: not all F&B providers may need utensils; download product info sheet)
- Cost of reusable serviceware including plates, bowls, hot beverage cups, cold beverage cups, and utensils instead of single use/disposable serviceware
**If a different service provider than the City-contracted service provider offered at no cost to events.
Return to top
What are the Benefits to Grant Award Recipients?
- Cost savings due to landfill avoidance
- Use of eco-stations offered at no cost to events (includes collection containers, lids, signs, and bags)
- Cost savings due to the replacement of attendee trash boxes through the Eco-Station Loan
- City contracted service provider offered at no cost to events (includes eco-station transportation, setup, sorting, tear-down, clean-up, and transferring bags to Dumpster/bins)
- Cost savings due to the provision of recyclable material collection bins and hauling fees*
- Free technical assistance throughout the planning, reporting and evaluating process
- Recognition under the City of San José Green Event Certification
- Satisfaction of becoming a steward for the environment:
- Diverting garbage from landfills preserves land for better purposes for our children and grandchildren to enjoy
- Recycling saves scarce resources such as paper, plastics, and energy
- Recycling provides material for items made from recycled content
- Composting turns organic material into valuable product for landscape and agriculture uses
Return to top
What is the Grant Process?
Step 1 - Register: Go to WebGrants and enter your username and password. If you are new to WebGrants, register at the top right of the webpage (may take up to one week to receive confirmation of registration approval). Your account will be active for use with any City of San José grant opportunity this year and in future years. Select the funding opportunity named Green Event Grant 2011-2012. Download and save all documents under the section named “Grant Related Documents” which is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 2 - Apply: A total of $80,000 is available through the 2011-2012 grant program season (March – December) on a reimbursement basis. Complete and submit the application with all required attachments a minimum of 60 days prior to your event (download Application for reference). You will be able to save your progress throughout the process by clicking on the save icon at the top of the application.
Step 3 – Review & Approval: Grants will be approved on a first come, first serve basis for applicants that meet all submission requirements until funds are depleted. If your grant is approved, you will be contacted within 30 calendar days after receipt of your application. You may be contacted prior to that by the Zero Waste Events & Venues Team with clarification questions.
Step 4 – Monitoring: After grant approval, arrangements will be made for Zero Waste Events & Venues Team staff to attend appropriate planning meetings and on-site evaluation will be scheduled to ensure the event has met all the grant requirements.
Step 5 - Report: Within 10 days after the event, proof of material disposal and diversion by weight and type must be submitted through WebGrants. Within 45 days after the event, a Post Event Report must be submitted through WebGrants, and original receipts/invoices must be mailed, or you will not be reimbursed.
Step 6 - Award: If your grant is awarded, funds will be provided within 30 calendar days upon receipt of the Post Event Report. You may be contacted prior to that by the Zero Waste Events & Venues Team with clarification questions during the review process.
Return to top |
|
