WordCamp Montreal Goes Green! And You Can, Too!

Guest Post by Tippi Thole

Let’s Talk Trash

Did you know that Canada leads the developed world in per capita production of garbage?! We produce 720 kg per person per year, or 2 kg per day. At that rate, our upcoming WordCamp Montreal conference could end up generating 800 kg of trash in two days! Yikes.

Coffee and lunch tables at previous WordCamp Montreal event. So much trash!

When we throw something away, we’re not just wasting our money. We’re also wasting the natural resources, human labor and fossil fuels that were used to extract, create and transport that product to us. What’s more, once we throw an item away, it doesn’t just vanish (don’t we wish!). It has to be hauled off with fossil fuels to landfills (which are filling up fast and leaking toxins, leachate, and potent greenhouse gases), or recycling centers (which require energy to clean, sort, shred and transport that material so it can be reused). Throughout its lifecycle, trash is a major contributor to climate change and is a waste of our planet’s limited resources.

WordCamp Montreal Goes Green

In response to this growing environmental problem, WordCamp Montreal will be launching some eco-friendly initiatives this year to minimize the amount of waste produced during our annual conference:

To reduce packaging, milk, and sugar for hot drinks will be served in bulk rather than individually wrapped packages.

To eliminate disposables, Saturday’s lunch will be a buffet, with real plates and silverware. Oooh la la!

To avoid plastic pollution, there won’t be any plastic bottles or straws. Water will be in dispensers, and additional cold drinks will be in aluminum cans, which are infinitely recyclable.

To reduce single-use items, the Happiness Bar will feature two retractable banners that can be reused year after year.

And to make it fun, WordCamp participants who bring their own bottle/cup from home will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win a WCMTL mug at the end of the conference. Woohoo!

Now It’s Your Turn

To be successful at reducing our collective waste, we need your help. Here are some simple ways you can make a difference at WordCamp (and beyond):

By bringing a handful of reusable items with you, you can greatly reduce your environmental impact.

1) BYOB (as in bring your own bottle). Water will be available in dispensers (no plastic bottles) so be sure to bring a refillable water bottle if you like to stay hydrated.

2) Bring your own mug. If you plan on enjoying all-you-can-drink coffee and tea, bring your own to-go mug or cup for a constant caffeine buzz.

3) Bring a lanyard for your name badge. If you don’t have one, WordCamp Montreal will supply one but make sure you return it at the end of the conference to be reused next year. The planet thanks you!

4) Bring a cloth napkin. Skip paper napkins and paper towels by bringing a reusable napkin or cloth. You’ll look soooo sophisticated!

5) Recycle and compost responsibly. There will be recycling and compost bins throughout the conference site. If you’re not sure how to dispose of a particular item (landfill/recycle/compost), please ask a WordCamp volunteer for guidance.

6) Say no to freebies. If you don’t need that pen, sticker or notebook, don’t take it. Bring a notebook and pen from home instead if you’ll be taking notes. Accepting freebies creates a demand for their replacement and tells the organization that supplied them that they should order more of them (not to mention the extra clutter at home).

7) Go to Tippi Thole’s WordCamp talk! OK, so this is a shameless plug to get you to come to my Sunday presentation “Talking Trash: How to Work With Zero Waste.” But if you’ve managed to read this far, my talk is definitely for you. I’ll be sharing tips for reducing waste while working 🙂