EDUCATION & PROMOTION GO HAND IN HAND

As one of 15 universities in the University of Texas system, this has school diversified their recycling program by integrating their recycling systems into the residence halls. With six halls to manage and increasing student support for waste reduction, the department of Environmental Health & Safety worked with the administration of the residences.  The University began by investing in large metal centralized containers that were placed in high-traffic outdoor areas. They soon offered Apartment Recycling Bags to students to improve recycling rates in other areas of the university. The campus and dorm room recycling program has been a hit with students, but it has not come without promotional and educational effort from the Environmental Health & Safety department.

INCREASE RECYCLING RATES OVER THE HOLIDAYS 

While bringing good tidings and cheer this holiday season, don't forget to help improve recycling rates! Before you choose your customer, partner and employee gifts for 2005, be sure to consider how to best promote waste reduction! Our extensive line of Promotional & Educational Items make for ideal and memorable Christmas gifts. These fun and functional reminders help promote your recycling and composting initiatives not only over the holidays, but also throughout the new year!

Contact us for more information on how you can make use of our recycling promo products.

PLANNING A GREEN HOLIDAY PARTY

It's nearly here once again…colorful lights will soon be strung, carols will begin to play and mall parking lots will fill. Have you thought about planning your Christmas party yet? Before the rush of the holiday season starts we wanted to share some tips, tricks and ideas for throwing the best party while keeping waste reduction in mind.

The Theme

You have two options here, keep it general or spice it up by adding a theme to plan the party around. Themes help build interest and hype around the event while encouraging more fun. Potential holiday themes can be Holiday Magic, What’s Under the Tree?, Christmas Characters Costume Party, or Let it Snow - Let it Snow - Let it Snow. If you are planning a party for environmental departments, why not go with a Green theme? The theme should be used through all areas of event planning. Whatever you decide on, setting the atmosphere is always a great way to indulge the spirit of fun and celebration in your party, which leads us to the next step.

The Mood

Use all the senses to set the mood of your party. Selecting the right location, music, entertainment and décor that plays into your theme will contribute to the success of event. Although creativity is important for all elements of party planning, it should not be casually overlooked in this area. Don't miss out on this opportunity to impress your guests!

Choose a location that can accommodate the expected amount of guests. Try for a new venue this year or review what has worked in the past for everyone and make it different with new entertainment and décor. Be sure the location has ample parking, taxi cab access and has a recycling program that will support your efforts to minimize the waste generated from the party.

Get others involved who will help decorate. Use enviro-friendly decorations that can be recycled once torn down. But with this don't forget to tell whoever will be cleaning up the event to actually recycle the materials.

Use a few mix CD’s of music that will boost the spirits of everyone. Whether it leads to cutting up the rug or just lounging, don't be afraid to mix it up a little and toss in some ol’ time classics with the latest holiday releases. The right music may just lead to spontaneous karaoke among your co-workers!

The Menu

One of the best parts of the holidays involves wining and dining. You can keep it simple with an inner-office potluck buffet or have it catered depending on your location. Choose some festive drinks and foods that will stir conversation while satisfying the guests. You may want to survey your co-workers on what they would enjoy eating the most.

If there are any guests with food allergies, make sure they are aware of what is in each dish before they sample it. Buffets can be challenging for these guests, therefore its best to set out small signs listing basic ingredients that would cause allergies, for example “This dish contains peanuts, shrimp, etc.”

Communal punch bowls are common, but you can make them interesting by using them as a centerpiece and even going over the top in decorating them. Add fruit and special shaped ice cubes to make each glass poured unique. Decide on if you will serve an open bar or provide drink tickets. Whatever you choose, every responsible party planner should consider transportation options to be available to all guests.

The Invites

Your decision on invitations will depend on the formality of your party. If you are going to distribute printed invitations, then use recycled paper with vegetable based inks. Or if you are keeping it casual, then using an e-Card isn't a bad idea. Be sure to get your invitations out at least a couple weeks before the party to give your invitees enough time to respond. With that in mind, you will need to provide a method to RSVP and it's helpful for your planning purposes to give a deadline for registration.

The Interaction

Going back to the reason you decided to throw this party in the first place, you now can select the fun you will show your guests. Don't let your creativity slip up here either! Choose interactive games and activities for guests to participate in. Make it competitive between groups or departments to create team spirit. Some fun games depending on your theme could include an open-air enviro-trivia contest, best caroling-karaoke, ice-sculpting contest, dance/talent show and so on. Get the crowd going and spur their creativity.

Make it memorable and provide party favors and door prizes for guest to walk away with. These gifts should reflect the party’s ongoing theme and be a fun reminder of the event. If you went with a green theme, then use items that promote recycling and/or composting for the New Year ahead. Busch Systems has a complete line of promotional items designed for fun and functionality.

Whether you plan a small or large holiday party this year, we wish you much success in your endeavor for fun and celebration. If you go with a green theme, we would love to hear about it! Contact us and share your suggestions for next year.