Title: Greening Initiative

Author:

Section/SPIG: Environment

Issue Date:

---

Less Trash! Less Plastic!

Help meet the Diversion Rate goal of 75 percent at APHA 2011.   The Diversion Rate (the recycling/trash ratio) in D.C. at APHA 2007 was 34 percent . The Diversion Rate in Denver at APHA 2010 was 52.75 percent. 
 
Less Plastic!

• Bring a refillable bottle or buy one at the Food and Water Watch exhibit.
• Bring your own bag or get one at “Everything APHA” at the APHA Expo. ( DC stores charge a $.05 fee on single use bags .)
• Talk about how to reduce paper, plastic and waste at your section meetings and events.
• Share resources about the social justice, public health and environmental problems caused by water privatization and disposable plastic water bottles.
• Take leadership for Healthy Communities. Work to safeguard water infrastructure in your communities and organizations. Use resources: Take Back the Tap Campaign and Think Outside the Bottle Campaign.

Less Paper!

• Work for paper-free meetings.  Share examples of paper-free meeting strategies on the APHA Environment Section and APHA Food and Environment Facebook pages. 
• Register for APHA 2011 online.
• Avoid printed programs and flyers. Use Facebook and other social media to promote events and program information.
• Use electronic info-boards for program and event information.
• Access abstracts and programs online.
• Post events, presentations and posters online.

Eat Well
Use the www.eatwellguide.org to choose D.C. restaurants and food suppliers that promote healthful eating and sustainable agriculture. 
 
Learn more at APHA Green Initiatives: http://www.apha.org/meetings/highlights/environment.htm