Green Matters in Jackson Hole Issue 7, Winter 2019-20

in jackson hole

issue 7

winter ‘19-’20

Inside this issue SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION • THE BUSINESS OF SAVING ENERGY • WHERE DO YOUR RECYCLABLES GO? TEAROUT MAP FOR GOING GREEN • GOT WATER? • 1 OUTFIT FOR 100 DAYS …AND MORE!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS TIM O’DONOGHUE RIVERWIND FOUNDATION

PHIL CAMERON

ENERGY CONSERVATION WORKS

3 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4 JACKSON HOLE GOES FOR SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION

ALI MILBURN HOLE FOOD RESCUE

MORGAN W. GRAHAM TETON CONSERVATION DISTRICT

6 THE BUSINESS OF SAVING ENERGY 7 ISWR RECYCLING GUIDE 8 GUIDE TO GOING GREEN 10 HOW LONG DOES YOUR MORNING SHOWER TAKE?

MARI ALLAN HANNA ROAD TO ZERO WASTE VOLUNTEER

11 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK LODGES ACHIEVES BEST CERTIFICATION 12 GOT WATER? DISCOVER THE SURFACE WATER INVENTORY 14 ONE OUTFIT 100 DAYS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LINDSEY EHINGER INTERCONNECTIONS 21

In its most native form, the word sustainable refers to “the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.” Over the years, especially over the last decade, the definition has evolved to encompass the idea of “avoiding the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain ecological balance.” We’re willing to bet that for most of us, when we hear the word sustainable, it’s the latter definition our minds jump to. If we pause for a moment and consider the first one, however, we wonder if, as a town and as individuals, sustainability is what we truly desire to be shooting for.

If we take a snapshot of where Jackson Hole is as it relates to eco-conscious practices at this very moment, we are just above average. That is, doing fairly well but with room for improvement. This rating is based on the feedback we received during EarthCheck’s assessment of Jackson during our application for global sustainability certification. You can learn more about this process and the findings on Pages 3 and 4, in the article entitled Jackson Hole Goes for Sustainability Certification. If our desire is to satisfy the first definition of sustainable that we mentioned above, then as a community we need not change our practices, implement new tactics, rally behind better policies, and hold ourselves to higher standards of living and conducting business.

But that’s not the Jackson that we know.

The Jackson we know doesn’t settle for just above average. That’s why throughout this issue, and the ones that follow, you’ll consistently find ways to contribute to the improvement of our score as a community. We’ll share with you new ways to understand the impact of wasted food via timing your shower, and we will show you how to use your wardrobe (or lack thereof) as an educational tool for consumption literacy. You’ll also learn more about why we single sort our recyclables and where they go once you drop them into the big blue bins, and we’ll even offer you 5 simple steps to follow to make your next event more green.

We believe that, together, we can actually move past both definitions of sustainability, and strive to neither “maintain a certain level” nor “avoid the depletion of” our natural resources. Rather, we believe we can replenish, rewild, and regenerate our region, adding value and leaving it all better than we found it.

Because that is the Jackson we know.

Tim O’Donoghue, Executive Director, Publisher

SIENNA TAYLOR

Crista Valentino, Editor

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

JACKSON HOLE HIGH SCHOOL

15 TCMUN: A TETON COUNTY GREEN EVENT RUN BY AND FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Cover Photo: Vertical Harvest

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3

JACKSON HOLE GOES FOR SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION

By Tim O’Donoghue, Riverwind Foundation

•

• •

Leverage this effort to further educate the diverse segments of our community on sustainability and our challenges and opportunities to be more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, Be the first EarthCheck certified destination in the United States and Canada, and Implement the sustainability policies and principles in the Jackson/Teton County Comprehensive Plan and strive toward the Town and County resolution for Jackson Hole to be a world-leading sustainable community and destination.

EarthCheck was selected among other destination- and community-certification programs because they are the global leaders in scientific benchmarking, certification, and advisory services in travel and tourism; certified more destinations worldwide that any other program; have the most rigorous system that aligns with other global standards for sustainability; and are only one of two GSTC-accredited programs worldwide.

Bike paths and bike rentals contribute to Jackson Hole’s efforts to reduce the amount of cars on the road, lowering our community’s carbon emissions. Photo Credit: Friends of Pathways

In 2012, Teton County, Wyoming was selected by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to be one of the first early adopters of the world’s most comprehensive sustainability standards for destinations. As one of only six selected from 30 applicants, Teton County or Jackson Hole, as we are more popularly known globally, joined Fjords Norway; Lanzarote, Spain; Huangshan Mountain, China; St. Kits & Nevis; and Okavango Delta, Botswana in being evaluated with these sustainability standards. The result: Jackson Hole received its first third-party assessment of our sustainability status of 47% compliance to 120 sustainable destination criteria.

The GSTC concluded that despite the numerous and diverse sustainability initiatives going on in Jackson Hole, there was no organization or program working to unite these efforts toward community goals and international standards for sustainability. However, the GSTC further concluded that “Teton County more than any other place in the world has the potential to become a leader as a sustainable destination” and that we have the natural capital, human capacity, and financial resources to realize this potential.

These findings were the catalyst for the Riverwind Foundation’s creation of the Jackson Hole & Yellowstone Sustainable Destination Program in 2014. A MOU

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signed by 57 community stakeholders was used as the organizational basis of a strategic council and tactical steering committee. An action plan was created to address the areas needing improvement identified by the GSTC with several key objectives. These objectives were that the Program would: 1. Address our community’s overall sustainability, not just in tourism, 2. Not be competitive with, but complementary and supportive of, existing programs and organizations, 3. Unite and coordinate our community’s sustainability efforts on a project-by-project basis, 4. Seek formal certification within five years, and 5. Be a model and a source of inspiration for other communities through our storytelling and awards Going for Sustainability Certification Starting in January 2019, the Riverwind Foundation and its partners, supported by over 40 volunteers and funding from the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board, have engaged with EarthCheck of Brisbane, Australia to certify us as a sustainable destination. The purpose of seeking certification was/is to •

Drive innovation and improvement in our community’s performance over a wide range of sustainability areas,

addressing visitor and resident management issues and associated environmental and community impacts, and [c] acting on the commitments made in the Comp Plan and various sustainability-related Town and County resolutions, including climate action.

Moving Forward The policy statement for Jackson Hole is in place and the visitor and resident feedback system is being determined.

The Tourism Management Plan is in the early stages of planning. This Plan represents a significant opportunity for our community to unite toward a more sustainable future and export what we’ve learned along the way through our stories to our visitors to positively influence the sustainability journeys of other communities.

Green Matters in Jackson Hole will continue to report on our work toward sustainability and achieving even

The areas of sustainability that we were assessed on were: (1) energy efficiency and conservation, (2) greenhouse gas emissions, (3) air quality protection, noise and light pollution, (4) management of freshwater resources, (5) wastewater management, (6) ecosystem conservation and management, (7) land use planning and development, (8) transportation, (9) solid waste management, (10) management of environmentally harmful substances, (11) cultural and historic preservation and social services, and (12) economic management.

After nine months of conducting the most comprehensive sustainability data and documentation collection effort ever in our community, the Riverwind Foundation Destination Certification Team readied our community for the EarthCheck certification audit. This audit was conducted September 9-13, 2019 and consisted of data and documentation reviews, extensive stakeholder interviews and meetings, and site tours of various stakeholders in the valley.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges conduct waste audits every year to better understand their trash and to assess their efforts in proper sorting and recycling.

The result: Jackson Hole passed all but 10 of 266 sustainability criteria. According to the EarthCheck Destination Certification Report, Jackson Hole has received “conditional certification.” In order to be fully certified, we must establish 1. An overarching sustainability policy for Jackson Hole, 2. A system for soliciting, tracking, responding to and reporting on visitor and resident feedback on tourism here, and 3. A destination action plan, a.k.a, Tourism Management Plan. Such a plan sets the policies, strategies, and actions for [a] achieving our goals and meeting international standards for sustainability, [b]

higher levels of certification that mark and celebrate our progress. It is our hope that you will communicate your support for a Tourism Management Plan to our leading authorities, including the Town of Jackson, Teton County, and Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board, and participate in community engagement surveys and forums to determine our collective vision, goals, and actions for a more sustainable future for Jackson Hole.

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THE BUSINESS OF SAVING ENERGY

By Phil Cameron, Energy Conservation Works

complete suggested measures and pay off the costs over five years on your energy bill.

4. Some conservation projects, especially lighting, may qualify for Lower Valley Energy rebates and incentives through their conservation program. Project rebates require pre-approval, so check-in with us before you begin your projects to learn more.

5. Projects identified through the commercial audit process can often apply for up to 25% cashback in the form of Federal Energy Rebates. Such projects may also qualify for additional federal tax credits. Speak to your tax professional in advance of any such projects.

Whether you’re motivated by cost savings, environmental benefits, the value of your property, the comfort of your clientele, and/or the productivity of your employees, there are myriad resources available to guide you down the road of energy efficiency.

In partnership with Lower Valley Energy, Energy Conservation Works can help you navigate the process of understanding and reducing your energy footprint. It’s often difficult to know where to begin, so we’ve mapped out a five-point process to help you:

The approaches you can take to reducing your bottom line, reducing your emissions, and improving your operation are numerous and varied. Like any journey, the first step is often the hardest, but what matters is starting! Consider Energy Conservation Works as your community partner in the journey of operating your business more efficiently and contact us at www.energyconservationworks.org or (307) 413-1971 to get started.

WHERE YOUR RECYCLING GOES Paper Products

Plastic bottles

Trash

Teton County, WY

Wrappers

Steel & Tin Cans Plastic Bags Glass

E-waste

Plastic Bottles

Batteries

1. It all starts with understanding how and when you use energy. You can work with Lower Valley Energy (LVE) to gain access to Smart Hub, which allows nearly real-time access to your electricity use via web and mobile app-based access. LVE can also provide you with detailed usage reports by month and year, upon request.

Aluminutm Products

2. Starting with a professional energy audit allows an energy professional to recommend the most effective solutions. An audit can comprehensively address your building, evaluate a specific equipment replacement project, and/or address commercial demand charges for periods of high use. As a result of grant funding, these audits are currently available to qualified small businesses at a rate of 75% below cost. An audit is required for commercial loans, LVE rebates, and federal rebates and grants.

Ever wonder where your recyclables go once you’ve dropped them off?

Most manufacturing facilities are out of state and near manufacturing hubs, so recycling has to be shipped. Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling researches to find the best price for our commodities while also considering the environmental effect of freight. Recycling in Teton County works because our community sorts at the recycling bins, and because we only accept high value recyclables that are salable.

3. Once you have completed an audit, quantifying potential energy savings, you can apply for a zerointerest Commercial Energy Loan through Energy Conservation Works. The program allows you to

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ISWR RECYCLING GUIDE

Downloading the SmartHub App on your smart phone allows you to track your energy usage real-time.

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TO GTNP VIA SOUTHERN GATE north u.s. hwy 89/191 to grand teton national park: elk refuge inn flat creek ranch jackson lake lodge jackson hole airport Xanterra Yellowstone National Park Lodges

JACKSON HOLE MOUNTAIN RESORT

JACKSON

THE ASPENS

STILSON public parking

king

TOWN SQUARE

center

CACHE

deloney ave

National elk refuge

teton ave

deloney ave

ST. JOHNS HOSPITAL

hansen

maple

karns

vin

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RODEO GROUNDS

king

CACHE

karns meadow dr.

SONS ALBERT

ss rd.

virginia ln

buffalo

old pa

scott LN.

hall

kelly aspen

nelson dr.

TOWN HALL

rancher dr.

simpson

pioneer ln.

gros ventre

king

glenwood

pearl

CENTER FOR THE ARTS

y 89

ay / hw

dw broa

snow king ave.

cache creek

PARKS & REC

POST OFFICE

HIGH SCHOOL BUTTE

POST OFFICE

willow

teton pas

s

flat creek dr.

sp rin

22

gg

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jackson hole wildlife safaris

chamber of commerce

millward

hw

clissord

RD .

i

jean

K

REE

TC FLA

~7 m

< TO TETON PASS

redmond

E. broadway

2

y2

EMILYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S POND

jackson

WILSON hw

WILSON BOAT RAMP

road

REC CENTER gill ave

ul ch

square

hwy 390

wilson

R PARK

ad

nch ro

hhr ra

sn ak er ive r

fish creek rd.

mercell ave.

TEAR OUT MAP GUIDE TO GOING GREEN

r

te ul

co

meadowlark

aspen

rodeo pine

. air dr

JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

crabtree ln.

white

hous

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loop south park

JW GROCER

bl

spruce

S. hwy 89

gregory

rd.

RECYCLING LOCATIONS

JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL

SNOW KING RESORT

START BIKE LOCATION

south park loop rd. / hwy 221

high school

hway

aman pat

russ gar

rafter J

EV CHARGING STATIONS JH20 WATER BOTTLE REFILL

dr.

3 creek

gam e tra creek ilhe ad

BIKE PATH

south park loop rd.

TETON COUNTY INTEGRATED SOLID waste and recycling center

fla t cr eek

8

snak

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snake river levee

SLOW FOOD FARM STAND BEST CERTIFIED BUSINESSES

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HOW LONG DOES YOUR MORNING SHOWER TAKE?

YELLOWSTONE NP LODGES ACHIEVES BEST CERTIFICATION

By Ali Milburn, Hole Food Rescue

By Tim Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue, Riverwind Foundation

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, food production in the United States uses 10% of the total U.S. energy budget, 50% of U.S. land, and 80% of the freshwater we consume. Yet 40% of food in America is wasted [1]. Each year, Americans throw away 67 million tons of food, equivalent to $160 billion [2]. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food they never eat [3]. Food waste is the single largest component entering landfills and as food decomposes anaerobically, it generates methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2 [4].

In 2018, Hole Food Rescue prevented more than 270,000 pounds of food from being landfilled. It takes 43,461,981 gallons of water to produce this much food. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough water for you to take an eight minute shower, every day, for the next 6,922 years [5]. Throwing away one pound of chicken wastes the equivalent of taking a shower for 104 minutes (370 minutes for one pound of beef).

Wasting a single banana is like taking a 42 minute shower [6]. These comparisons are comical because we would never take a shower for 42 minutes. So why do we feel a smaller sense of remorse when we let the last banana get too brown to consume?

Community members at the Senior Center â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rescued food.

Food waste is a huge problem in this country, yet few people realize that consumers are actually the largest source of wasted food â&#x20AC;&#x201C; more than restaurants and grocery stores combined. Wasting food wastes the land, water, energy, labor, and love used in producing, processing, transporting, preparing, storing, and distributing food...what a waste!

So what can you do? Plan your meals ahead of time so you buy just what you need, and have less perishable food on hand at your house. When the fridge is full and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see all the food we have, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to forget whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s there. Storing food properly can also have a dramatic impact on the lifespan of perishable food. To learn tips on proper food storage and other ways to prevent food waste in your home, visit XXX savethefood.com.

[1] www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf [2] www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs [3] savethefood.com/did-you-know/ [4] www.epa.gov/lmop/basic-information-about-landfill-gas [5] www.home-water-works.org/indoor-use/showers [6] savethefood.com/did-you-know/

DID YOU KNOW? Proper food storage has a dramatic effect on the lifespan of your food:

NUTS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Store shelled nuts, even if roasted, in an opaque, airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. If you must keep them in the pantry, store in a cool, dark place in an airtight container and use within a few months.

ASPARAGUS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Put bundled stalks upright in a glass or blow with 1 inch of water and place on a refrigerator shelf BANANAS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Store on the counter at room temperature, away from other fruit (unless youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to ripen those fruit). Once ripe, you can store them in the refrigerator.

The skin may darken, but the banana will be just right for several days.

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Learn more food storage tips at savethefood.com/storage.

Xanterra Travel Collectionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Yellowstone National Park Lodges has achieved the Business Emerald Sustainability Tier (BEST) level of sustainability performance. The standards in the BEST program are comparable to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most rigorous and comprehensive environmental, community, and economic sustainability criteria.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges is the first to achieve third-party sustainability certification at the Enterprise level by the Riverwind Foundation, the originator of the BEST program. They join the Elk Refuge Inn, Flat Creek Ranch, Jackson Lake Lodge, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Hole Airport, and Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris as BEST Certified.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges have replaced plastic water bottles with aluminum cans with a screw-top cap, filled with water from Montana Silver Springs.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are thrilled to have achieved this certification not only to acknowledge the significant commitment that we put into our sustainability efforts, but to help support the growth of this rigorous local certification program. We hope to see the continued expansion of this program throughout Teton County to help preserve and protect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for future generations,â&#x20AC;? says Director of Sustainability, Dylan Hoffman.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges exemplify a business culture that prioritizes environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility throughout its planning, staff training and guest orientation, and operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In particular, Yellowstone National Park Lodges has institutionalized sustainability through its extensive instruction and guidance documents, systems for monitoring and measuring its sustainability performance, and significant sustainability plans and successes,â&#x20AC;? says Tim Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue, Executive Director of the Riverwind Foundation and coordinator of the Jackson Hole & Yellowstone Sustainable Destination Program.

THE UNIQUE YNP CANS ARE EASY TO RECYCLE, CAN BE A COLLECTORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ITEM, AND ALLOWS YOU TO REFILL THEM AT ANY OF THE WATER-BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS AROUND THE PARK. 11

GOT WATER? DISCOVER THE SURFACE WATER INVENTORY

By Morgan William Graham, Teton Conservation District

SWI. Their process was extensive: they reviewed and digitized 3,319 maps, conducted an exhaustive inventory of all existing hydrographic spatial data, and maximized aerial lidar (using laser beams!) to peer into the unmapped understory. The team also identified and evaluated 30 existing water datasets originating from a federal, state, and local sources; obtained all available water right information from the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office e-Permit database; and generated hundreds of thousands of lines and polygons from scratch to achieve their desired accuracy. Phew!

All of this work produced the most comprehensive representation of Teton County’s water resources available. But, as you might imagine, mapping every drop of water in the valley is challenging. The SWI will continue to be updated over time and Teton Conservation District staff will continue to work with landowners, agency personnel, and consultants to refine the existing information and add new features as new data become available. The SWI is available to the public in digital, hard-copy, and web-based formats.

Lidar derived Digital Elevation Model

Do you love pouring over maps? Do you like reading the names of tiny lakes and creeks and imagining what seldom seen plants, rocks, and animals might be out there? Do you use a map and your imagination as motivation for launching a new adventure into the unknown? Have you ever wondered where all the water around us is coming from? Do you have an interest in collaborating with your community to improve water quality and management?

There’s good news for you map lovers. For the first time ever, you can look at a map of all the water in Teton County, Wyoming. Known as the Surface Water Inventory (SWI), the new map leverages all existing hydrographic data to accurately describe the name, location, and water rights associated with surface water in Teton County.

Prior to the release of the SWI, the names of some streams, ditches, and reservoirs and their associated water rights were a mystery. There was no singular avenue for efficiently identifying water right conveyances across Teton County and knowledge of some water features only existed within the minds of individuals or in dusty files. Now, users have a shared tool to accurately describe the natural and human-maintained surface water around them. The platform will better inform surface water permitting, agricultural production, irrigation maintenance, water quality monitoring, flood prevention, land valuation, natural resource planning, storm water mitigation, fisheries management, wetland assessment, habitat assessments, recreation planning, and more.

It took Teton Conservation District’s Wildlife & GIS Specialist, Morgan Graham, and GIS Technician, Chauncey Smith four years of work to create the

WHERE DOES ALL THE WATER IN TETON COUNTY COME FROM? Where does it go? The most comprehensive representation of Teton County’s water resources ever created is now available in digital, hard-copy, and web-based formats.

VISIT

tetonconservation.org/surface-water-inventory

to discover the Teton Conservation District Surface Water Inventory.

Bare-earth Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Red and orange areas indicate depressions created by artificial impediments (road and levee). Automated generation of flowlines would require manual removal/burning of these impediments (hydroconditioning). Since, we would eventually need to 13 manually assign names and permits to watercourses, TCD opted to forgo automation and manually digitize ditches and streams.

TCMUN: A TETON COUNTY GREEN EVENT RUN BY & FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

ONE OUTFIT 100 DAYS

By Mari Allan Hanna

By Lindsey Ehinger and Sienna Taylor

Day 100 of the One Outfit 100 Day Challenge

The idea for the One Outfit 100 Days challenge came from New Jersey teacher, Julia Mooney, who wore the same dress for one hundred days to raise awareness about zero waste and to model for her students a focus on inner beliefs rather than outer appearance.

When I saw her story, I had just left my job with Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling. I was happy with more life/family balance but was also looking for a way to stay involved in the zero waste effort. Oddly, I was also struggling with what to wear to not go to work.

This challenge met my needs, but I wondered what difference it would really make.

Some research found that: · Over 100 days, reducing the typical American closet down to one pair of jeans would save enough water to fill a swimming pool (19,700 gallons). (Quantis Report) · Fast fashion is a term referring to the fact that American closets contain 5x the amount of clothing they did twenty years ago, and the items are typically only worn for 5 weeks.

(Sustain Your Style)

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I decided to “become an active citizen through my wardrobe,” and to do so in a pair of green hemp and recycled polyester overalls from Patagonia, a leading sustainable fashion company.

The rules were simple: Wear the overalls every day, March 10 to June16, except while sleeping or exercising. Wash them twice a week with a regular load of laundry and hang them to air dry.

Overall, the mechanics of the challenge were easy. I loved the simplicity of only having one outfit and even now keep my closet small.

What I didn’t expect was to feel empowered. The overalls gave me someone to be after leaving my job and an excuse to dive more deeply into a personal zero waste practice.

Ultimately, though, what I appreciated most about this experience was a new perspective on zero waste. My original understanding centered around living with less: sacrificing for the good of the planet. But wearing less wasn’t a sacrifice. It was freedom. It didn’t feel like going without. It felt like living more fully.

DID YOU KNOW THAT, DUE TO FAST FASHION TRENDS, AMERICAN CLOSETS CONTAIN MORE THAN 5 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF CLOTHING THEY DID TWENTY YEARS AGO? Learn more about the brands, companies, and people leading sustainable fashion: @remakeourworld @sustainyourstyle @patagonia @thredup @allbirds @ecoage @truecostmovie @elizabethcline

Since 2006, InterConnections 21 has organized the Teton County Model United Nations (TCMUN) conference. In November 2019, over 230 students and educators from 12 schools across Wyoming and Idaho converged at Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) for two full days of robust debate and collaborative problem-solving of real global issues.

For the second straight year, TCMUN was recognized as a Teton County Green Event. It is the only Green Event run by and for high school students. As part of Teton County’s Road to Zero Waste, a Green Event targets the essential three R’s: Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling.

The purpose of a Green Event is to monitor exactly where resources are coming from and how to minimize their consumption with a goal to divert 90% of waste generated from the landfill.

InterConnections 21’s Green Team began planning the event in June with our Sustainability Management Plan (SMP). The SMP encompasses many components of sustainability, from waste reduction to energy consumption to social impact. With direction from the “Road to Zero Waste Green Event Guide,” we

identified criteria to focus on. For the two day conference, we partnered with local pizzeria, Pinky G’s, one day and hosted a potluck style meal by the high school students the second day. Thanks to Slow Food in the Tetons, Hole Food Rescue, High Country Linens, and JHHS, we were able to supply reusable plates, utensils, napkins, and glasses to conference attendees.

use. Even though these requests are small, they serve to educate people about the simplicities of sustainability.

To further encourage a sustainable trip for delegates, the Green Team put together a “Green Your Trip” infographic highlighting sustainable restaurants, shops, and the many ways to be eco-conscious while in Jackson.

Through our efforts, we managed to divert 89.6% of our waste. Perhaps more importantly, we directly educated and inspired hundreds of students and staff from eight different communities about sustainability and zero-waste principles.

As one visiting student commented, “I really appreciated JHHS’s efforts to make the world a greener place. I was really proud to be a part of such a conscientious organization. I think that my school should start going green like this.”

To manage, track, and minimize the waste produced by the conference, we had several waste stations in the food areas. We were excited to include compost (courtesy of WyoCompost and Haderlie Farms) and recycling bins next to the trash cans at these stations. To ensure that waste made it into the proper bins, we posted designated volunteers to manage and educate participants about where to dispose their waste.

We also presented sustainability information to delegates and staff.

During the opening ceremony, attendees were reminded to minimize waste by first taking only what they could eat and then returning for seconds. We also asked participants to consider their actions outside the conference, such as turning off the faucet whenever it wasn’t directly in

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TOP TIPS FOR PUTTING ON A GREEN EVENT 1 Start planning early! The Green Event Resource Guide is a great reference and can be found at bit.ly/GreenEventResourceGuide 2 Communication is key. Make sure pre-event marketing includes Green Event info.

3 Bring some friends! Volunteers playing “goalie” at waste stations provide crucial education and prevent contamination in compost and recycling.

4 Always keep an eye out for what you can reduce or a new system you can include. Don’t limit your options to your initial ideas, and be flexible with changing them.

5 Don’t worry about being perfect. There is always going to be room to improve, but any effort is a step in the right direction on the “Road to Zero Waste.”