They say that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Embrace this insightfully green adage and reduce your exhibit’s carbon footprint after the show by repurposing whatever is left over, rather than throwing it away. 
You may be surprised at what local non-profit organizations find useful for things like art projects, community rehab or resale. Items of interest may include banners and signage, show bags, office supplies, furnishings or display materials.
In Las Vegas, Repurpose America is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing waste generated during tradeshows by finding ways to repurpose materials back into the community. If you’re exhibiting in Las Vegas and looking for a post-show destination for exhibition materials, check out the organization on Facebook.
You may also try searching nonprofitdirectory.com for organizations in a convention city that will accept and pick up your donation. The directory allows you to search by city and state for a comprehensive list of non-profits in the area.
Beaulieu of America turns post-consumer recycled content into sustainable carpet used for tradeshows, commercial and residential flooring. Its products are certified under The Carpet & Rug Institute’s Green Label Program including Nexterra, a sustainable carpet made of 35% Polyethylene Terephthalate (P.E.T.) and 50% recycled glass from windshields and light bulbs. Each year, the firm uses 40 million pounds of recycled P.E.T., which amounts to 720 million 16-ounce plastic water bottles that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
See related article:
Creating a sustainable tradeshow lifecycle
