A Day in the Life of a Dumpster Diver
What’s involved in greening an event for
over 4,500? What happens on a typical day at the show? MeetGreen
Sustainability Project Managers Aaron Elliott and Romana Cohen recently
worked at the 2016 Unitarian Universalist Association
General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio. This is an annual event for the
association and they wanted to show you a behind the scenes look at what
a Sustainability Project Manager’s day is like.
6:00 AM - A typical day
starts with a quick jog by the river in Columbus. Humid already.
Grateful for a moment of nature, fresh air, and local sights before the
intensity begins. One must practice personal sustainability in order to
be an effective change maker. Scoping out the local bins.
7:15 AM - Our role as
sustainability consultants onsite is to be investigators,
anthropologists, teachers, facilitators and leaders. A typical day
starts by checking out the recycling situation in the hotel lobby on the
way to the convention center. What material are the cups made of? Are
the right bins in place? Are attendees using their own mugs and/or water
bottles? Where can I find a quick breakfast on a real plate?
7:30 AM - Unitarian
Universalist Association models a deep commitment to sustainability by
gathering together a team of recycling volunteers (lovingly dubbed
“dumpster divers”) who help to educate attendees on proper waste
sorting. The green booth, pictured, is our sustainability HQ onsite.
Here, we provide information about sustainability at the conference and
act as a hub for volunteers and questions. This morning, the MeetGreen
team synchs, we deploy our amazing recycling volunteers to various waste
stations, then we have a quick check-in with the hotel, catering and
convention center staff.
To see the photos make sure to click on the full story!
