Project Green Prom


	It may not be the most glamorous of topics, but waste management certainly is an essential area to address when talking about greening your prom. The goal is to divert as much waste as possible from the landfills, and the way to get there is to plan ahead to recycle, compost, and donate. WASTE REDUCTION Before we even get into ways of getting rid of waste, let's talk about avoiding it in the first place. If possible, use reusable serving pieces (plates, glasses and flatware) rather than disposables; choose linen napkins and table linens over throwaways; reduce the amount of signage; avoid kitschy giveaways that will be tossed before the night's end; hire a photographer who shoots and shares proofs digitally. partyrentalltd.com classicpartyrentals.com RECYCLING Make sure that your venue and your caterer (this may mean your school and your teachers/parents!?) have receptacles ready and labeled to separate paper, plastic and aluminum. If this all happens behind-the-scenes that's great, but if waste bins will be out on the floor then be sure to have them clearly (and elegantly!) labeled, and even consider having volunteers manage them to facilitate the proper disposal of items. recyclenow.com COMPOSTING Composting is often more of a challenge as not all venues or caterers are set up for it. Try to bring on vendors who are already in-the-know, but if that isn't an option then build a relationship with a compost facility before the prom and be sure to find out exactly what they do and do not accept. Again, signage is key here. findacomposter.com bpiworld.org NYC lesecologycenter.com NY AREA actioncarting.com DONATING Waste not, want not! Make plans in advance to donate any leftover food from the prom. This can be as simple as untouched chips and dip or any hot or cold food from your buffet or plated dinner. feedingamerica.com NYC bowery.org CARBON OFFSETS No matter how dedicated you are, the sad truth is that there will be waste created and greenhouse gases emitted as a result of your prom. If your school has the budget, or if you can include a small surcharge in each ticket price without breaking the bank, create a budget for purchasing carbon credits so that you can make it a carbon-free evening. Choose a site with a carbon calculator designed specifically for events, and then get the whole class involved in choosing how to allocate the credits. carbonfund.org/calculators# terrapass.com nativeenergy.com PRE-/AFTER-PARTIES Don't forget about recycling, composting and donating at your pre- and post- parties. It's completely within your control when it's in your home… no excuses! dwr.com GOOD GREEN CLEAN I know, the party design is complete, the waste is all set to be properly disposed of and you're sure all your planning work is done. Not quite yet. Not only does a party create waste, it also creates a mess. So, a brief word for you about cleaning up… THE DRESS There is no excuse when it comes to your dress (or tux!). If you're already planning on dry cleaning your outfit, you've got to seek out an eco-friendly cleaner in the area. These cleaners (and ask them questions to make sure they're the real deal) use alternative, perc-free cleaning methods (usually it's either wet cleaning or CO2 cleaning), which leaves your clothing and our ground water free of toxic chemicals. NYC greenapplecleaning.com NATIONAL greenearthcleaning.com (choose "store finder") THE LINENS So, this one can be a challenge, but that's never stopped you before, right? If you're using linens that are owned by your school, then you've got some power, but if you've rented linens from a rental company, then prepare yourself for a conversation. Use your machine washable, school-owned linens as an opportunity to do more than just cover the tables at prom. Use them as a starting point for a conversation about sustainable cleaning, from laundry to lockers and floors. There is a huge range of eco-friendly cleaning solutions that can address all of your school's cleaning needs while keeping our air and ground water free of toxic chemicals. If, on the other hand, you're renting linens from a company and have basically no control over how they are cleaned, use this as an opportunity to open their eyes to new alternatives and express, as clients, that that's the direction in which you'd like to see them head as a company. While you might not be able to get them to use your preferred eco-friendly dry cleaner or laundry solutions this time, it won't hurt to introduce them to the concept, and even pass along the names of some great options on the market. seventhgeneration.com methodhome.com armandhammeressentials.com wholefoods.com THE JOINT Wherever you end up hosting your prom, there is going to be some serious cleaning that goes on while you guys are en route to that after-party. Whether it's in your school's gym or at the fanciest hotel in town, make sure to talk with the person in charge of housekeeping and let them know that you'd prefer the use of eco-friendly cleaning solutions at your event (not to mention every other event they host from here on out). Again, you might have a bit of a battle to fight here, but just realize that vendors are in business for their clients. You may be teenagers, but your school's dollars carry as much weight as anybody's, so speak up and tell them what you want. If it doesn't work this year, maybe next year's prom will be cleaned green… PRE-/AFTER-PARTIES As with your dress or tux, you can have a voice (loud!) when it comes to the cleaning products used of pre- and after-parties if they're hosted in your home or the home of your friend. Talk to the parents in charge and pitch some of the products mentioned above. The easier you make it for them the more likely they are to give these new products a chance. DOING GOOD So, one last thing that I'd be remiss not to address is the very vague, yet essential request that whatever you do, Do Good. Just the very act of considering introducing sustainability into your prom is incredible, but I challenge you to take it further. TAKE ACTION Work with your classmates to learn about all of these greening ideas and come up with creative ways to infuse them into your prom. Then, don't let the genius die with you- keep a log of all of your actions, successes and failures, and pass it on to the incoming seniors for them to learn from and add to. CONSIDER OTHERS A key component to sustainability is not only being mindful of the planet, but also being mindful of the people who inhabit it. We already discussed purchasing Fair Trade products and donating leftover food and décor as great social actions, but how about using the prom as a way to raise money for a cause? Whether the money is going towards offsetting the cost of prom tickets for classmates in need or if it will be donated to a nonprofit organization of the class' choosing, either way it is important to always consider those less fortunate even in our times of joy and celebration. I promise you that this simple action will make your prom a more fulfilling and fabulous party.