SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Achievements to Reduce Waste

• Divert at least 60 percent of event waste from landfill
• Comprehensive Waste Management Plan that includes compost and commingled recycling
• All food vendors and caterers required to use compostable serve ware
• New bulk purchase system developed to lower price of compostable serve ware for event
• All food vendors and caterers composting/diverting as much pre-consumer food scraps as possible
• Recycling of traditionally difficult materials including pallets, plastic bags and cooking grease
• Food recovery program to donate unused food from event to local charities
• City, Virginia Green Travel Alliance (VGTA) and HandsOn Greater Richmond created the new RVA Green Team Volunteer Network to recruit and train sustainability volunteers for the UCI Worlds
• City, HandsOn Greater Richmond and VGTA received a grant for six Americorps NCCC volunteers to serve as green team leaders during event
• Volunteer training included pre-event e-mails, a video on compost and recycling during the event, a short pre-shift training session and on the scene training from a team leader
• RVA Green Team volunteers encourage, educate and involve attendees in separating items into proper bins
• Ten water refill stations located throughout the event area provided by the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities
• Reusable beer cups in beer gardens
• Public eco-stations: three bin stations with 96 gallon commingled recycling, 96 gallon compost, and 96 gallon trash (landfill) bin. Located throughout key event areas and marked w/color coded and coordinated system of flags, symbols and signage for high visibility.
• Vendor Eco-stations: three bin stations with 96 gallon commingled recycling, 96 gallon compost, and 96 gallon trash (landfill) bin. Located conveniently near caterers and food vendors. Also includes collection of: cardboard, plastic bags and cooking grease.
• Staging areas placed in strategic locations where recycling, compost and trash from eco-stations as well as cardboard, pallets, plastic bags and cooking grease is placed temporarily until picked up and taken off-site
• Eco-station banners and signage created to educate attendees and encourage waste reduction efforts
• Developed detailed maps showing locations of eco-stations and staging areas and shared with caterers and vendors
• Conducted pre-event meetings and daily check-ins with caterers and food vendors
• Caterers monitored attendance numbers to ensure supply tailored accordingly to avoid waste
• Recycle packaging material from event
• Event app that provides event details and information to reduce the need for printing
• 100 percent online registration for athletes and volunteers
• Event communications and marketing conducted electronically to minimize printed material
• Encourage reduction of give-away items at event
• Rent, borrow, or reuse a majority of event equipment

Achievements to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Transportation

• navigate.richmond2015.com created to clearly convey day-by-day event information related to: traffic and commuting, transit, Amtrak and parking, pedestrian/cyclist guide
• “RVA Green the Scene” campaign and signage to encourage people to use public transport, walk or ride to the event
• Multiple temporary bike share stations to provide rental bikes for use during the event
• Bike valets available to encourage people to ride to the event
• Shuttle buses to and from event are available where people can park/ride from two convenient locations
• Event venues can be conveniently accessed by public transport
• Event partner GRTC offering a special $35 unlimited ride pass during entire event
• Event partner RideFinders providing carpooling and other alternative mode resources
• Amtrak to offer enhanced walk-up checked bike service on select trains and at select stations
• The event courses and schedules were developed to take into account morning and afternoon travel patterns and peak travel times

Achievements to Be Healthy

• Using local caterers and food vendors that are serving healthy food options
• Encouraging healthy activities by engaging the community in events like “Conquer the Cobbles,” which gives the public a chance to ride the race course
• Car Max Kid Zone with interactive and educational activities on being healthy and bike safety
• Partnered with DRIVE SMART Virginia on a “Be Aware. Be Safe. Share the Road” campaign
• Promoting September is Virginia Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Month with partner DRIVE SMART Virginia

Achievements to Leave a Positive Legacy for Future Events

• “UCI World Sustainability Champion” community focused campaign to engage attendees in sustainability activations during event and educate them on broader city sustainability initiatives
• Main event site is the Greater Richmond Convention Center (GRCC), which is a Virginia Green Certified facility
• Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset carbon footprint of event operations
• A green event toolkit provided by the City of Richmond and VGTA with free information and resources to influence more events to adopt sustainable practices
• RVA Green Team Volunteer Network will continue to serve as a resource to help future events and festivals in the community become more sustainable
• 200 eco-stations provided by the City of Richmond for free to help organizers in the community make their events more sustainable
• 10 water refill stations provided by the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities to help organizers in the community make their events more sustainable
• Bulk purchase system to lower the price of compostable serve ware for event organizers, caterers and food vendors
• “RVA Green the Scene” campaign and signage to inform attendees about sustainability initiatives and encourage adoption at future events 
• Green team volunteer video, eco-station banners, signage, and flags are available to be for use at future events
• A new category for the Virginia Green Program that enables food trucks and mobile food vendors to apply for certification