Green Events Guide
Milwaukee is proud to be the City of Festivals, but we're also a Water Centric City that showcases global leadership in managing our water resources in a sustainable and resilient way. Often times our public events leave our streets and waterways littered with plastic and debris, posing serious threats to the environment and health. Follow these green events considerations to help you take the first steps towards a conscious community event that protects the environment.
Download a Printable Guide:
Green Events Guide Brochure_English
Guia de Eventos Verdes Folleto_Espanol
Best to Worst Choices
When making purchases, aim for the best choices you can and work your way to the worst. The best choice starts with reducing waste and the least favorable option is landfilling items.
The best way to keep waste out of our waterways and streets is to buy less and use less. Take a moment before you buy to consider what your event actually needs to be successful.
Do your guests really need plastic bags, handouts and giveaways that will never be used? Or, Is it worth it to buy balloons that will only be used for a few hours and then become waste or float away and end up in our rivers, streams, or lake?
Quick Tips:
1. Choose bulk items like squeeze bottle condiments instead of individual packets.
2. Provide linen napkins instead of paper.
3. Offer individual utensils instead of packets of utensils.
Every item that gets reused is one less piece of trash. Invest in reusable items. Wash and save them for the next event, rather than buying new items each time. 
Employing a compost system at your event can significantly reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill, and can also give your food scraps a second life. 
Recycling is the law in the State of Wisconsin. The City of Milwaukee recycles paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass, and plastics #1, 2, & 5. Styrofoam (Plastic #6 or polystyrene) is not recyclable in Milwaukee and never breaks down in the landfill. A styrofoam-free event is an easy first sustainable step.
We know it’s impossible to completely prevent sending waste to the landfill. Be sure to always have adequate trash receptacles to prevent contamination of recycling and compost bins, and to prevent litter from ending up on the ground or blowing away.Up Your Green Game
- Public Transit
- Reusable Containers
- Say No to Balloons
- Smarter Marketing
- Get Creative
Consider public transportation when selecting your event venue.
Not only will you reduce your event’s footprint, but your guests will thank you for easing the stress of parking.
We all know how hot events can get in the summertime. Encourage your guests to stay healthy and hydrated while saving money.
- Ask your guests to bring reusable water bottles.
- Provide refillable water stations.
Say no to balloon launches. What goes up must come down. Balloons are one of the most common plastics found during envrionmental cleanup efforts.
Instead of balloons, try fun, eco-alternatives:
- Bubbles
- Flower petals
- Compostable confetti
- Bird seed
Advertise smarter, not harder. The rise of social media has made advertising for your event even easier, so why waste time covering the city with fliers?
- Instead of hundreds of small posters, try a few large ones in highly-trafficked areas.
- Ask your collaborators to share event information with their friends and family.
- Get creative.
Give greener swag. Aim for sustainable, locally sourced giveaways that everyone can use to reduce waste every day:
- Reusable cloth bags
- Metal water bottles
- Travel mugs
- Native seed packets
Think outside of the box! The possibilities are endless to make an event green. Pair your event’s goals with sustainability initiatives to create something truly unique.
Rock the Green is an award-winning producer of green events that coordinates zero waste efforts. Rock the Green’s Sustainability Festival features a Pedal Powered Stage using energy from stationary bikes to run:
- Microphones
- Speakers
- Lights