Sustainability Incentives

The City provides a Sustainability Incentive for events that wish to pursue zero-waste. During the event application process, the event producer can indicate if they intend to apply for a sustainability incentive payment. The City's Community Recycling Coordinator will reach out to event producers during the application process to discuss the sustainability incentives. Preplanning along with a brief event summary required along with receipts/paid invoices are required to be eligible for any of the incentives. Events are encouraged to consider reusable plates/bowls/utensils in order to make the biggest impact towards a zero-waste event. May combine Levels 1, 2, and 3 or choose Level 4 alone.

Post event, detailed receipts must be submitted for the incentive payment. Submit a Sustainability Incentive Request Form.

Sustainability Preplanning

• Mandatory consultation. Contact the City's Community Recycling Coordinator to learn about what actions you can take to make your event more sustainable and to learn more about zero waste.  
• City staff will provide you with a list of vendors that can provide zero waste services

Level 1: No single use water bottles given out

• $200/event
• Preplanning is required
• Can contract for or provide water monster or other reusable water bottle options
• Brief event summary required along with receipts/paid invoice(s)

Level 2: Event uses only recyclable/reusable materials

• $300/event
• Preplanning is required
• Only events that involve permitted food vendors are eligible.
• Brief event summary required along with receipts/paid invoice(s)

 Level 3: Event composts food waste

• 75% of the cost for the service (up to $2,000)
• Invoice for compost service required
• Preplanning is required
• Only events that involve permitted food vendors are eligible.
• Brief event summary required along with receipts/paid invoice(s)

Level 4: Zero Waste. Staffed trash, recycle, compost stations as needed for event size.

• 75% of the cost up to $5,000
• Preplanning is required
• Contract for recycling and compost services
• Own or rent zero waste equipment 
• Staff the zero waste stations (can be volunteers or paid staff)
• Provide documentation that stations were staffed and receipts for zero waste stations (composting and recycling)
• Photos of zero-waste activities (use of reusable plates/bowls/drinkware/utensils, zero-waste stations)

• Brief event summary required along with receipts/paid invoice(s) 

If you are interested in pursuing this incentive but not sure what it really means, see the Zero Waste Event Video.