At the Bite of Oregon Sustainability Matters!

With financial support from sponsors Portland General Electric, SYSCO Food Services of Portland, Burgerville and Boyds Coffee the 2008 Bite of Oregon continues its “Sustainability Matters” campaign to help reduce our waste streams impact on our states landfill. With rubber-glove support from more than 60 Bite Green Team volunteers, the festival almost doubled its recycling rate in 2007! Over 49% of the event’s waste was recycled, up from 23% in 2006. Highlights included:

• introducing compostable service ware at our SYSCO Oregon Chef Stage
• more than 1,000 pounds of biodegradable waste diverted as compost
• hand-rinsing, stacking and recycling thousands of beverage cups
• the entire festival powered by PGE renewable power.
• three-fourths of the Bite’s 80 participating restaurants, wineries and exhibitors signed a Sustainability Pledge
  

For the 2008 Bite of Oregon our goal of becoming a zero waste festival continues with the following initiatives:

• 100% of the service ware used on the footprint will now be fully compostable
• all beverage cups used will be made from corn, which is 100% compostable and environmentally sustainable
• the entire festival will again be powered by PGE renewable energy
• Recycling Stations will be located throughout the entire festival to help attendees sort their trash
• Bite Green Team volunteers will monitor and sort the waste stream to maximize recycling of items
• Bite restaurants, wineries and exhibitors will be asked to sign our Sustainability Matters Pledge which outlines rules to minimize their environmental impact at the festival
• attendees will be encouraged to use public transportation whenever possible via our partnership with Tri Met

We ask all festival attendees to support our recycling initiatives while enjoying their food and beverages at the Bite. With your help we can exceed our recycling rates and protect the great state of Oregon for future generations to enjoy.