March 2, 2001: Green Star Press Release

Contact: Jeanne Carlson
Green Star Recycling Program Coordinator
Phone: 278-7839
Fax: 279-5868
Email: Jeanne@greenstarinc.org

March 2, 2001
For Immediate Release

SPECIAL EVENTS BECOME GREEN EVENTS IN ANCHORAGE

Green Star, an Anchorage-based nonprofit organization dedicated to rewarding waste reduction, pollution prevention, and energy conservation efforts, has rolled out a new program. Green Star’s Green Events program will help event planners and facilities throughout Anchorage to reduce their environmental impact through recycling and waste prevention. The Green Events program offers planners and facility managers free use of recycling bins and signs. It also provides a list of volunteers and all the additional recycling supplies, outreach materials, and technical assistance needed to help make the recycling program run smoothly.

Green Star developed the program during the summer of 2000, with the help of several University of Alaska students, in response to a visible need to enhance public recycling in Anchorage. As a tourist and business destination, Anchorage benefits greatly from an improved environmental image, while event planners and facilities benefit from the increased efficiency and reduced waste disposal that recycling and waste prevention creates.
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Since the program’s inception, several events have become certified Green Events, including the Harry Chapin Youth Arts Serve-a-Thon, the Alaska Forum on the Environment, the Alaska Hospitality and Foodservice Expo, the 2001 Tour of Anchorage ski race, and the 2001 Iditarod Musher’s Banquet. So far, almost one ton of recyclables have been collected from the various events.

Green Star also is working closely with the Special Olympics World Winter Games Alaska to make the Special Olympics a Green Event. Look for recycling bins this week at the Olympics venues from Girdwood to Eagle River, and throughout Anchorage. This high-profile, international event will showcase Anchorage’s public recycling efforts as spectators from around the world witness the City’s environmental commitment to recycling.

The Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is very supportive of the Green Events program and has indicated that it wishes to certify this year’s Mayor’s Marathon and several other events as Green Events. Bonny Sosa of ACVB says that Green Events is a much-needed program that will help Anchorage improve its image with visitors from the Lower 48 who are accustomed to seeing recycling bins at their local events.

Green Star began 10 years ago and currently has close to 400 members. Members work toward achieving one of Green Star’s two awards – a Green Star Award or an Air Quality Award – by meeting a series of standards. As Green Star Awardees, businesses, institutions, government agencies, schools, and other organizations gain recognition for their environmental initiatives. Awardees also benefit from improved business efficiencies by implementing waste reduction and energy conservation measures.

Green Events is just one of Green Star’s programs to assist local businesses and institutions to meet their waste reduction goals. Any type and size of special event can become a Green Event. For more information about the Green Events program or any of Green Star’s Award programs, contact Green Star at (907) 278-7827 (general information) or 278-7839 (Green Events information). Send email to greenstr@alaska.net. Visit Green Star’s web site at www.greenstarinc.org.

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		Green Star, Inc. 880 H Street, Suite 106 Anchorage, AK 99501 NEWS RELEASE Contact: Jeanne Carlson Green Star Recycling Program Coordinator Phone: 278-7839 Fax: 279-5868 Email: Jeanne@greenstarinc.org March 2, 2001 For Immediate Release SPECIAL EVENTS BECOME GREEN EVENTS IN ANCHORAGE Green Star, an Anchorage-based nonprofit organization dedicated to rewarding waste reduction, pollution prevention, and energy conservation efforts, has rolled out a new program. Green Star’s Green Events program will help event planners and facilities throughout Anchorage to reduce their environmental impact through recycling and waste prevention. The Green Events program offers planners and facility managers free use of recycling bins and signs. It also provides a list of volunteers and all the additional recycling supplies, outreach materials, and technical assistance needed to help make the recycling program run smoothly. Green Star developed the program during the summer of 2000, with the help of several University of Alaska students, in response to a visible need to enhance public recycling in Anchorage. As a tourist and business destination, Anchorage benefits greatly from an improved environmental image, while event planners and facilities benefit from the increased efficiency and reduced waste disposal that recycling and waste prevention creates. MORE PAGE 2 Since the program’s inception, several events have become certified Green Events, including the Harry Chapin Youth Arts Serve-a-Thon, the Alaska Forum on the Environment, the Alaska Hospitality and Foodservice Expo, the 2001 Tour of Anchorage ski race, and the 2001 Iditarod Musher’s Banquet. So far, almost one ton of recyclables have been collected from the various events. Green Star also is working closely with the Special Olympics World Winter Games Alaska to make the Special Olympics a Green Event. Look for recycling bins this week at the Olympics venues from Girdwood to Eagle River, and throughout Anchorage. This high-profile, international event will showcase Anchorage’s public recycling efforts as spectators from around the world witness the City’s environmental commitment to recycling. The Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is very supportive of the Green Events program and has indicated that it wishes to certify this year’s Mayor’s Marathon and several other events as Green Events. Bonny Sosa of ACVB says that Green Events is a much-needed program that will help Anchorage improve its image with visitors from the Lower 48 who are accustomed to seeing recycling bins at their local events. Green Star began 10 years ago and currently has close to 400 members. Members work toward achieving one of Green Star’s two awards – a Green Star Award or an Air Quality Award – by meeting a series of standards. As Green Star Awardees, businesses, institutions, government agencies, schools, and other organizations gain recognition for their environmental initiatives. Awardees also benefit from improved business efficiencies by implementing waste reduction and energy conservation measures. Green Events is just one of Green Star’s programs to assist local businesses and institutions to meet their waste reduction goals. Any type and size of special event can become a Green Event. For more information about the Green Events program or any of Green Star’s Award programs, contact Green Star at (907) 278-7827 (general information) or 278-7839 (Green Events information). Send email to greenstr@alaska.net. Visit Green Star’s web site at www.greenstarinc.org. ###