Working Toward Zero Waste!

With support from our sponsors Sysco Portland, Portland General Electric, NW Natural, Arrow Sanitary Service and Elysium Events the 2010 Bite of Oregon is focused on Working Toward Zero Waste to help reduce the events waste stream impact on local landfills. Rubber-gloved support from hundreds of Bite Green Team volunteers over the years has pushed the festival’s recycling rate from 14% in 2004 to over 66% in 2008! We hope to achieve even better levels in 2010.

Our goal of becoming a zero-waste festival continues with the following initiatives:

• Bite restaurants and wineries will be asked to sign our Sustainability Matters Pledge which outlines rules to minimize their environmental impact at the festival including the use of compostable food and beverage service ware
• All Recycle Stations located throughout the event will include compost bins to dispose of all food and service ware, including all beverage cups
• All compost will be sorted behind the scenes to guarantee that all compost is free of contaminants prior to going to the compost facility
• Attendees are encouraged to use public transportation whenever possible via our partnership with Trimet
• All restaurant grease will be captured and picked up by Oregon Biofuels to recycle this waste into a biofuel commodity

We recognize that a sustainable event is a journey and a long term goal to strive for. We ask all festival attendees to support our Working Toward Zero Waste initiatives while enjoying their food and beverages at the Bite. With your help of diverting materials to compost and recycling bins we can protect the great state of Oregon for future generations to enjoy.