Second Helpings held its annual Corks & Forks fundraiser at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 14, 2018. I was honored to serve as a sponsor and coordinate the zero waste program for the event, resulting in a waste diversion rate of 92%!
92% of the event’s solid waste was composted, recycled or repurposed, leaving only 8% to be disposed of as trash. In line with Second Helpings’ mission of food rescue, hunger relief and culinary education, the waste diversion included 120 pounds of rescued food.
The 92% waste diversion rate qualifies Corks & Forks 2018 as a zero waste event, meaning the event diverted 90% or more of its solid waste from landfills or incinerators. This definition is based on guidelines set by the Zero Waste International Alliance.
Corks & Forks is the first zero waste event to be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
“We are proud to partner with Second Helpings in achieving this zero waste goal,” said Pacers Sports & Entertainment President and COO Rick Fuson. “We will continue to look for ways to be as environmentally responsible as possible in all the events we bring to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.”
Approximately 800 guests attended the event featuring food and wine tastings from some of Indy’s most notable chefs and restaurants.
The zero waste achievement could not have been possible without the incredible staff at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, led by senior director of sustainability Doug Weitkamp, plus staff and volunteers from Second Helpings, and the commitment from both organizations to demonstrate leadership in sustainability. Recycling and compost bins from the Indiana Recycling Coalition’s Lend-a-Bin program were also pivotal in successfully collecting and sorting waste.