Venues and Special Events (VSE)
Venues and special events are terrific opportunities for people to come together in great numbers, which also means that the opportunity for waste is also great. And, in 2005, a Venues and Special Events recycling law (AB2176) was enacted to further assist communities to reduce garbage. Part of the law requires reporting by the communities to the state on the efforts of their events to recycle. This page is designed to provide guidance on the offerings of RethinkWaste.org to assist you to reduce waste.
The Event Planner's Waste Reduction Top 10 List
These activities will help you to prepare for your event while keeping resource conservation in mind.
- Order recycling and trash containers from your hauler and confirm schedule of arrival.
Allied Waste offers garbage and recycling services for your event, including compostables collection.
Four weeks prior to your event, complete the
Special Events Form on the Allied Waste web site.
- Find a volunteer or group to be responsible for the recycling operations on the day of the event. You can allow them to take the refundable beverage containers for cash.
- Post large, central, easy-to-read display boards or signs instead of distributing programs.
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The three secrets of success to greening your event are labels, labels, labels. The actual items for recycling and disposal are tacked to the lids. Use colors, words, and the disposables — the sample cups, plates, and bottles — to demonstrate, "These go HERE!!!"
For more ideas, see
Green-Mary.
- Hang a sign at concession stands telling vendors and event attendees where they can recycle.
- Maximize your use of the media to promote your event. Rely less on flyers and brochures.
- Choose reusable or recycled products over disposable ones. For example, instead of paper tablecloths, rent vinyl or cloth ones; consider gift certificates, passes or plants instead of gimmicky items.
- Ask concessionaires to minimize packaging. For example, offer condiments in bulk instead of single serving packets; only hand out one napkin per customer.
- Don't let leftover food go to waste! Divide it up amongst your volunteers or visit the Food Waste section of the RecycleWorks Web site.
- Ensure recycling containers are collected in a timely manner following your event.
Resources
California Integrated Waste Management Board: Waste Reduction at Venue Facilities and Large Events
California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA): VSE Recycling Council
Grist Magazine: "Meeting Expectations: Tips for greening conferences & events" by Joel Makower
National Recycling Coalition: "Green Meetings Policy"
RecycleWorks: Recycling at Events
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Special Event Recycling Containers and Management Services Available at No Charge
The South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA) received a grant from the State of California, Department of Conservation which paid for two trailers and 450 ClearStream ® recycling and trash containers to be used at special events within the SBWMA area (Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, Unincorporated San Mateo County, San Mateo and West Bay Sanitary District). SBWMA will provide containers and staff to help manage these Special Events, which in turn, should increase recycling and decrease the amount of material going to the landfill.
Fill this form out if you would like to have recycling containers provided by SBMWA for your event.
This calendar displays the available dates you can reserve the SBWMA Recycling Trailers. Please note that although the calendar may show availability for the Recycling Trailers, the SBWMA will need to verify availability for the Event Staff.
Is there a cost to reserve the Recycling Trailers?
The SBWMA will provide the trailer, the ClearStream ® recycling and garbage receptacles used during the event, and the event staff at no charge. The Member Agency or Event Group will be responsible for scheduling and paying for the garbage, recycling and organics containers (usually debris boxes).
Who can reserve these Recycling Trailers?
These trailers are available for all Member Agency sponsored events that anticipate having 500 attendees or more. To be considered for smaller events, please contact Tracie Bills directly at tobills@rethinkwaste.org and submit your request.
How can the Recycling Trailers be reserved?
In order to reserve a Recycling Trailer and the ClearStream ® recycling and garbage receptacles, please fill out the Event Management Request Form. SBWMA staff will respond to your request with appropriate details and information. You can also review the Special Event Calendar, which displays the available dates you can reserve the SBWMA Recycling Trailers. Please note that although the calendar may show availability for the Recycling Trailers, the SBWMA will need to verify availability for the Event Staff.
Is there a limit to the number of events which Member Agencies can use the Recycling Trailers?
No. As long as the Recycling Trailers and Event Staff are available, the SBWMA will be happy to assist with providing recycling collection service at your event.
How much advance notice is needed to reserve the Recycling Trailers for my event?
You should provide the SBWMA as much lead time as possible, but generally the Recycling Trailers will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. The minimum lead-time we need to coordinate use of the Recycling Trailers is two weeks.
What type of recycling service is provided with the Recycling Trailers?
You need to decide what recycling will be made available for the event attendees and how many recycling stations will be required. (A recycling station consists of the recycling and garbage receptacles.) If you are not sure, our Event Contractor can help you decide how best to set up your event for recycling. You can also refer to the SBWMA Event Guide for more information. The SBWMA’s Recycling Trailers are equipped with receptacles for can and bottle recycling, food waste recycling, and trash.
Event staffing and the services provided:
When you reserve the Recycling Trailers, the SBWMA will provide staff to assist with all aspects of collection services at the event including:
- Discussing prior to the event what is needed
- Delivering the Recycling Trailers to event
- Setting-up the recycling stations
- Managing the recycling stations during the event
- Removing the recycling stations at the end of the event.
- Transporting the Recycling Trailer back to storage
If an event has already established their own volunteers to service the recycling stations, please make sure to explain your plans for the event logistics when reserving the Recycling Trailers.
which includes descriptions of the Event Containers and Bags.
If you have any questions regarding the Recycling Trailers, contact Tracie Bills, SBWMA
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