Atlantic Reclamation Conference - 2008

Nova Scotia Museum of Industry, Stellarton, NS
October 20th & 21st

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Greening ARC2008

The conference organizers are committed to reducing the impact of the Atlantic Reclamation Conference 2008 on the environment, and making socially responsible decisions. Here are some of the things we're doing:

VENUE

We are working closely with the Museum of Industry to purchase Fair Trade Coffee and food from local suppliers, and to reduce waste from the event through the provision of:

• Composting containers and recycling bins for paper, glass and aluminum
• Cream, sugar, jellies and jams in serving dishes, rather than individually packaged
• China service for breaks, lunches and receptions

In addition, the Museum of Industry is:

• Completing the conversion of their lighting to be more energy efficient
• Currently exploring greening the roof
• Currently examining the feasibility of converting to geothermal energy
• Adopting the recommendations of the Sustainable Procurement Policy Working Group regarding the purchasing of goods and consumption practices and to decrease the Museum's carbon footprint.

CATERING

The Pantry Kitchen Restaurant has been serving the local community for over seven years, and purchases as much as possible from local businesses (all breads and rolls are from a local bakery, and the vegetables grown by a Merigomish farmer). In the past 7 years the restaurant has gone from recycling 5%of their waste to recycling up to 90% of their waste.

For this event, the Pantry Kitchen Restaurant is working with conference organizers to ensure that:

• Boxes from box lunches are recyclable (avoiding Styrofoam)
• Kitchen waste is recycled and composted
• Usable leftover food is donated to a local shelter

EVENT PLANNING AND COORDINATION

The conference organizers are mindful of the waste that most planning processes often result in. To minimize this, we are:

• Working with venue and catering service to reduce on-site waste production and to have maximum recovery of resources for reuse, recycling, and composting
• Maintaining heavy reliance on email and Internet for all stages of event planning and promotion
• Using double-sided copying whenever possible

Furthermore, we are considering the environmental and social impacts of decisions relating to the following event components:

Banners, Promotional Signage, and Printing:

• Every effort is being made to minimize the use of paper products throughout the conference. Where paper products are necessary, they are being printed on a high percentage of post consumer waste, cholorine-free paper.
• Ensuring that many of the printed materials such as signs and banners can be reused for future iterations of this conference.
• Every effort is being made to minimize the use of paper products throughout the conference. Where paper products are necessary, they are being printed on 100% post consumer waste paper, certified to be up to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council, and printed with vegetable based linseed oil inks
• Ensure that printed materials such as signs and banners can be reused for future iterations of this conference simply by replacing the small panels with conference dates
• Literature and hand-outs made available at "help yourself" tables rather than in delegate bags
• PowerPoint slides used instead of signs and banners in meeting rooms
• Exhibitors asked to take left-over literature back to their offices
• Participants asked to return their badge holders so they can be reused

Merchandise Purchases:

• Not providing a highly consumptive Delegate Tote
• Avoiding bottled water
• Working with venue and catering service to purchase from local providers for catering, using locally sourced products wherever possible
• As a token of appreciation for their contribution to the conference, the organizing committee has purchased gifts to local restaurants specializing in fresh, in-season, and local products (organic where possible) as well as gifts from Glenora Inn and Distillery in Cape Breton
• A name tag within a recycled name badge. All delegates are requested to return their name tags (including plastic sleeve) at the end of the conference in the marked receptacles for entry into a door prize! Name tags will be re-used at future CLRA events

Trade Show and Posters:

• Greening Exhibits and Posters: The Conference organizers provided information on how exhibitors can have a responsible exhibit or poster

Emcee Speaking Notes:

• To raise awareness of the importance of Conference Ecology, we have provided our Conference MC with a copy of all of these environmental planning considerations. Conference delegates will be reminded of the many aspects of Greening ARC 2008 throughout the conference's proceedings

ACCOMODATIONS

Event organizers have asked hotels to inform us which of the following environmental considerations apply at their hotel.

General:

• The hotel has an environmental policy and an environmental action plan.
• The hotel is certified by an eco-labelling program such as TheGreenKey® or Green LeafTM .
• Environmental duties are part of staff job descriptions.
• The staff receives training and regular updates on their environmental duties.
• The hotel has a comprehensive environmental procurement policy.
• The policy includes a commitment to consider environmental factors throughout product life cycles.
• The facility conveys its environmental policy to guests (e.g., through videos, publications, signage), and encourages guest cooperation.
• All facilities adhere to green office principles.
• The hotel subscribes to a recognized industry environmental code of practice (e.g., the Green Globe Program, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism).
• All food service facilities, restaurants, cafeterias etc. adhere to Checklist 2, Food and Beverage Services.
• The hotel's vehicles adhere to Checklist 3, Transportation.
• Encourage participants to billet with local friends or family to reduce reliance on hotel accommodation.

Waste :

• A waste reduction program is in place.
• All materials (paper, glass, metal, plastic, cardboard, etc.) having local markets are recycled.
• Recycling bins are numerous, conveniently located, and well-marked.
• Paper products the facility uses (including fine paper, computer paper, tissues, toilet paper and paper towels) have recycled content and are preferably unbleached with a high proportion of post-consumer recycled fibre.
• The hotel takes measures to reduce paper waste at check-in (e.g., short forms, computerized systems).
• The hotel reuses materials (e.g. donating used linens and usable food to charities).
• Where disposable items have not yet been eliminated, the hotel has a plan and schedule to do so.
• Hazardous wastes are properly collected, stored, transported and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations.

Guest Rooms and Amenities:

• Amenities such as shampoo and soap are purchased in bulk and provided in refillable dispensers.
• Packaging on complementary fruit baskets and other gifts is minimal.
• Guest stationery is made from certified recycled paper (preferably with a high postconsumer content and preferably not chlorine-bleached).
• The hotel provides information in guest rooms about the green aspects of their rooms to inform and encourage guests' participation.
• Information and publicity materials follow principles of green publications (as listed in Checklist 7, Communications).
• Guest rooms and public areas have containers for recyclable materials such as newspaper, glass containers, etc. The boxes are clearly visible and instructions are provided (via graphics, or in multiple languages).
• All containers provided in mini-bars are recyclable or reusable through the hotel's recycling program (e.g., no "sips"/"juice boxes").
• Newspapers are delivered to rooms only if requested and are not wrapped in a plastic bag.
• Signs encourage guests to turn off lights.
• Green rooms equipped with air and water filters and low-toxicity finishes and furniture are available.
• If guest rooms have fax machines, these use recyclable paper.

Laundry, Energy, & Water:

• The hotel provides reusable containers (e.g., baskets) for laundry.
• Guests have the option of no second-day sheet and towel change to save laundry energy and water.
• The hotel endeavours to minimize chemical and energy use (e.g., through reduced use of chemical fabric softeners, bleach, spot cleaners and static removers, use of lower-phosphate detergents, and cold water washing).
• The hotel has a comprehensive energy management program.
• Lighting levels are set to provide the minimum necessary for comfort, safety and accessibility. Lights are turned off when not needed (e.g., in unused meeting rooms). Lighting energy use is reduced through efficient lights, use of task lighting, individual switches, and/or automatic controls (e.g., motion-detector equipped lighting).
• Proper insulation and maintenance of hot water heaters and pipes.
• Showers are equipped with low-flow showerheads.
• Automatic controls (e.g., setbacks) are in place for heating and cooling.
• The hotel has a water conservation program. (Evidence of the following measures is a good indication of a water conservation effort.)
• Staff and others are encouraged, through signage and other measures, to reduce water use.
• Facilities are equipped with water-saving devices (e.g., faucet and shower flow regulators; automatic shut-offs for faucets and showers; low-flush toilets).
• Water use for grounds maintenance is reduced through conservation measures such as planting drought-tolerant vegetation and mulching.

Bus Trip & Vehicular Considerations

Event organizers have asked the bus provider to inform us which of the following environmental considerations apply at their business:

• Vehicles are fuel efficient and appropriately sized for the function.
• Route planning makes the most efficient use of vehicles.
• Use ethanol-gasoline blends for gasoline-fuelled vehicles.
• Use low-sulphur fuel for diesel vehicles.
• Follow manufacturers' recommendations to maintain vehicles.
• Inspect emission control systems annually (older vehicles particularly should have emissions testing or visual inspection to ensure that no emissions are being released through the tailpipe.)
Drivers inspect the vehicles to:

• ensure that no fluids are leaking onto the pavement (daily)
• check for under-inflated tires (daily)
• other problems such as a loose muffler (daily)
• using a tire pressure gauge, ensure maximum recommended tire inflation to reduce fuel consumption (weekly)
• Teach drivers fuel-saving habits
• Establish an idle free-zone around the conference venue.
• In winter, use timers for block heaters.
• Tell drivers of all vehicles associated with the meeting and related events not to idle their vehicles while waiting for delegates, unless required for security.
• Use alternative fuelled vehicles (e.g., propane/natural gas, gasoline/ethanol/electric, hybrid, biodiesel) where feasible.

Conference Topics

Brownfields & Contaminated Sites
Legal & Insurance Liability
Mining Reclamation
Affects on the Real Estate Industry
Benefits of Landscape Development
Wetland Restoration
Product Implementation
Technological Advancements & Oppprtunities

Representation

Federal Government
Provincial Government
Municipal Government
Conservation Advocacy
Environmental Industry
Land Development
Manufacturers & Suppliers
Academia

Event Highlights

• 2 days of presentations in single, plenary style sessions - Local and continental regulatory and industry key-note speakers
• Day 1 will include a panel and presentations on wetland restoration projects...Click to view the Day 1 agenda.
• Day 2 will include a panel and presentations on brownfield and reclamation projects...Click to view the Day2 agenda.
• Optional Day 3 - A guided coach tour of local brownfields and wetlands is currently being scheduled...Click to view information.