With a growing awareness of the damage that plastic pollution causes to our city (and our planet), companies and schools are looking to find a way to do their part. A Lake Friendly conference or meeting can say it all.

What does it take for a conference & meeting to become Lake Friendly?

Provide only reusable (preferred) or compostable beverage containers, cutlery, and napkins; request vendors to do the same.
Use this guide to start your switch to reusable tableware. Also, this guide is helpful in considering environmentally-friendly disposable options.
Regarding compostable materials, Bagasse (a tree-free paper product made from plant fiber) is the ideal option because it can be composted at home. Plant-based plastic (Polylactic acid, or PLA) is the next best option (requires hot composting). Check whether an item is certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute.
Have three separate waste containers for recycling, compost, and landfill at your conference & meeting.
Refer to the City of Milwaukee’s recycling guidelines. Note that the Department for Natural Resources has banned certain items, including plastics #1 and #2, from landfills statewide.
Check out how to properly compost for your home and community from the City of Milwaukee.
Signing the Plastic-Free Conference & Meeting Pledge helps presenters and exhibitors understand why conference/meeting organizers have committed to reducing plastic, and shares steps they can take to participate
Ensure that there are no beverages in plastic bottles at the event (other than what attendees bring with them). Make certain that the vendors support the Lake Friendly conference & meeting guidelines and that your attendees have easy access to the safe alternatives being provided.
Attendees can bring their own reusable water bottles, cutlery, bags, or napkins to the event to help cutdown on unnecessary waste. Encourage and promote this recommendation!
Include information about the Plastic-Free MKE movement in conference & meeting materials, promotions, and signage to help spread awareness of the Plastic-Free movement to your attendees.
- Showcase our Lake Friendly Neighborhood program!
- Recommend the Lake Friendly Business program!
- Promote the Lake Friendly Conferences & Meetings program!
1. Encourage public transportation or carpooling for conference attendees. If possible, provide a shuttle service.
2. Install and maintain a cigarette butt receptacle outside of your conference. You can choose to DIY using a tin bin, some sand, and signage, or you can install a Hold On To Your Butt MKE cigarette butt receptacle.
3. Conduct a conference waste audit, including weighing and reporting the total amount of waste produced and percentage of waste diverted from the landfill. You can use the Plastic-Free Schools audit as a guide
4. Purchase renewable energy offsets for the event
5. Commit to using the majority of local vendors and products. Prioritize organizations led by members of marginalized communities.
Contact Charlie Leonard at cleonard@communityadvocates.net to get a branded ‘Hold On To Your Butts MKE’ receptacle and learn more about the campaign!

Resources and Support:

Event promotion with the Plastic-Free MKE audience

A Plastic-Free MKE tabling volunteer with resources to help educate attendees about plastics
Guidance and training on compostable materials
Contact information for Compost Crusader, a local company that can help support the selection of products and compost waste disposal
Guidance on cigarette receptacles and/or contact with the Hold On To Your Butts MKE campaign
Use of the Lake Friendly logo and communication kits for promotions, signs, and conference materials
As funding allows, Plastic-Free MKE may support with signage and a H2O Refill Station