ASTRO is committed to doing its part to mitigate the effects of climate change on patient care and promote environmental sustainability practices within our field. While we recognize that face-to-face events, such as ASTRO’s Annual Meeting, offer a valuable way for our specialty to connect and network in person, we also understand the importance of organizing a meeting that is environmentally and socially responsible in terms of its consumption and production. In that spirit, below are some of the green initiatives that you will see at ASTRO 2024 and ways that you, as an attendee, can help lessen the meeting’s environmental footprint.
ASTRO
- Utilize registration bags made from recycled materials; unused bags will be donated to a local charitable organization.
- Holderless name badge made of recyclable material and bins to recycle your lanyard.
- Reuse structures and signage for areas such as Posters, Industry-Expert Theaters, Game Zone and the ASTRO Resource Center.
- Aisle carpet in the Exhibit Hall is made from 25% recyclable materials and reusable at future events. Once it is no longer usable, it is 100% recyclable.
- Digital signage used throughout convention center and outside meeting rooms to provide session schedule and other event related information.
- All posters are digital, thereby eliminating the waste that comes from traditional paper posters.
- Easel and meter board signs are made of a recyclable material.
- Employ an online portal for meeting schedule and information and use digital options for attendee feedback and surveys.
- Implement a fully virtual meeting for those unable to attend or travel to the meeting in person.
Venue – Walter E. Washington Convention Center
As the host venue for the 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center has been awarded LEED Gold certification. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. The convention center’s business practices emphasize environmental responsibility in operating and managing a venue and focus on various sustainable efforts such as energy efficiency, food waste reduction, and recycling and composting. Some examples of specific green efforts include:
- All paper products used throughout the convention center are made from 100% recycled fiber and compostable. This includes hand towels, seat covers, tissue rolls, napkins, food holders, utensils, cups and more.
- The facility recently engaged a lighting consultant and is in the process of replacing all lights with LEDs.
- The convention center installed a solar film on large glass windows as well as a bird film on bridges that has reduced the number of injured birds by 100%.
- Chemical bottles used to clean the convention center are refilled using a self-diluting dispenser to prevent waste and spills. Chemicals are then distributed onto color-coded rags as opposed to being sprayed directly onto surfaces.
- The facility operates its ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system in “economy” whenever possible.
- Extensive recycling includes color-coded recycling and waste minimization program.
- Installation of PepsiCo’s recycling “dream machines” to encourage beverage container recycling rates.
- The convention center partners with many local sustainable businesses to recycle pallets left by general service contractors. An average of 50 pallets are picked up per month.
- Aramark, the official caterer of the convention center, employs an environmental, social and governance strategy aimed at prioritizing their employees and consumers and safeguarding the health of our planet through responsible sourcing and purchasing, conserving water and energy, reducing food loss/waste, reducing plastic consumption and expanding reuse, recycling and compost opportunities.
- At the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Aramark partners locally with DC Central Kitchen, when possible, to donate leftover food items.
- Aramark also uses PLA based clear plastics, sugarcane pulp plates and cornstarch based disposable cutlery when available.
Learn more about sustainability practices at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Hotels
Click on the links below to learn more about sustainability programs that many of ASTRO’s official hotels have instituted to reduce their environmental impact.
What can you do as an attendee to reduce your environmental footprint while attending ASTRO 2024?
- Travel with a reusable water bottle and take advantage of refill stations located throughout the convention center. Forgot to bring a water bottle? Stop by the ASTRO Store located in the East Salon at the convention center to purchase an ASTRO water bottle.
- Choose to reuse your towels, skip daily housekeeping and remember to turn off the lights in your hotel room during your stay.
- Use recycling bins located throughout the convention center and in hotels to dispose of waste materials.
- Exchange contact information with exhibitors using the scan code on your badge, thereby limiting the use of paper business cards.
- Most of ASTRO’s official hotels are conveniently located within walking distance to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. ASTRO provides complimentary shuttle service to the convention center for some of the hotels at a further distance. To promote sustainability, we encourage attendees to walk to their destination or use other forms of public transport, such as the Metrorail, Metrobus or DC Circulator to get around the city. The Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center station served by the Metro’s Green and Yellow lines can be conveniently accessed from the convention center.
