Event Greening Managing Waste, Recyclables, & Organics at Events & Festivals
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Event Greening
Managing Waste,
Recyclables, & Organics
at Events & FestivalsThanks to the extra- More than 700 festivals This guide will help event
ordinary efforts of and events are held in organizers get a handle
government at both the Nova Scotia every year, on waste management.
provincial and municipal and much of the waste Individuals and
level and the dedicated from these public organizations are
participation of residents, gatherings is composed encouraged to reproduce
Nova Scotia is a world of materials that are this guide; however,
leader in recycling and banned from disposal. the content cannot
composting. Just as residents already be modified and/or
do in their homes, waste- republished without
resources from public the written permission
events should be managed of RRFB Nova Scotia.
under the principles of
waste reduction, reuse,
recycling, and composting.
Acknowledgments
Development of this guide is a result of the effort and cooperation of RRFB Nova Scotia and the Bluenose Atlantic
Coastal Action Program (Bluenose ACAP).
RRFB Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit organization that administers certain components of the province’s Solid Waste-
Resource Management Strategy. RRFB Nova Scotia works with municipalities, government, and industry to ensure that
Nova Scotians receive the maximum environmental and economic benefits associated with waste management and
resource recovery. Contact RRFB Nova Scotia at 1-877-313-RRFB (7732) or visit www.rrfb.com.
Bluenose ACAP is a non-profit charitable organization that promotes restoration, enhancement, and conservation of
the ecosystem through research, education, and action.Contents
Nova Scotia is proud to host a wide variety of festivals and events throughout the year, from neighbourhood
suppers at community halls and churches to larger celebrations for residents and tourists. Regardless of the size of your
event, following these 5 steps to “green” your event can provide a better environment for the public to enjoy.
For the purpose of this guide, event greening shall be defined as integrating waste reduction, reuse, recycling,
and composting principles and programs into the event.
Research and Planning 2
Identify your stakeholders and collect information about waste management practices in your area.
Partnerships 6
What to consider when contracting vendors and waste management service providers.
Communication 8
Promote and publicize the greening of your event.
Monitoring 9
Things you will need to do during the event.
Clean-Up and Evaluation 10
Wrapping up after the crowds have gone home.
Checklist 11
Quick Tips 12
We hope that you will find this guide useful as you work on making your own event
an example to the rest of the province and the world!
1Research & Planning
Successful events are generally the Identify Composting and Establish a Waste -
result of careful research and planning
that begins long before the event is
Recycling Programs in Resource Management
scheduled. The fact that you are your Region Committee
reading this guide shows that you are All municipalities in Nova Scotia Establishing a Waste–Resource
aware of this important principle. have composting and recycling Management Committee to
The following are some consid- programs in place, but programs can coordinate the greening of your
erations to help you put the decision vary in terms of what materials are event allows for responsibilities to
to green your event into action. accepted, how materials are collected, be shared according to strengths and
and how waste from special events interests and will help to generate
Identify your is managed. ideas and solutions. To determine the
Stakeholders and the size of your committee, consider the
RRFB Nova Scotia Can Help
Role they can Play You Get Started!
size of your event and the tasks you
plan to undertake.
Stakeholders are individuals, Call the toll-free Recycling Help
organizations, businesses or Line at 1-877-313-RRFB (7732) for Tips for a Successful
community groups that might the name and number of a Regional Waste Management
have an interest in your event. Waste Reduction Coordinator
Your stakeholders can help with serving your municipality. Regional
Committee
the organization of a green event, Coordinators can provide you with • All committee members should have
so you should determine early on important information about a good understanding of the waste
who they are and identify what role recycling and composting programs management goals of the event and
they might be able to play. Your in your area and help you find of the waste management practices
stakeholders may include the composting and recycling facilities of the host community.
following: local waste/recycling/ and haulers. • All major stakeholders should be
organics hauler(s), municipal/regional
invited to have a representative on
waste reduction coordinators, event
the committee.
sponsors, local citizens, vendors,
service providers and local environ-
mental organizations or community
groups. Identifying your stakeholders
early will help you establish priorities
for greening your event and make the
job easier.
2 1-877-313-RRFB (7732)Assign a Waste Identify Goals
Reduction Coordinator One of the first activities of the
One individual should be assigned Waste–Resource Management
the role of Waste Reduction Committee is to identify overall goals
Coordinator for the event. This and objectives for the greening of the
individual should have strong event. What does the Committee The Mahone Bay Wooden
hope to achieve by greening the
organizational and communication Boat Festival is an annual
skills, a solid understanding of local event? It is important to include all
area waste management programs and stakeholders in devel-oping a policy to celebration of the community’s
practices, and be committed to the ensure that all needs are addressed.
Goals might include financial,
history of ship building that
goals of the Waste–Resource
Management Committee. environmental, and political attracts thousands of visitors
considerations.
For Smaller to the South Shore of Nova
Sample Goals
Events/Festivals The Mahone Bay Wooden Boat
Scotia every year. In 2000,
Community suppers, garden parties, Festival set the following goals as the Festival Committee hired
weddings and other small gatherings part of its event greening policy:
can also benefit from event greening. an Event Greening Coordinator
• Use education, reuse, recycling and
Although you may not need to
composting to reduce the amount to help make the event as
establish a committee, you still need
of waste sent for disposal.
the support of those involved to waste-free as possible. As a
successfully reduce waste at your • Ask food and beverage vendors
event. There may be less waste to to use compostable, reusable or
result of cooperation between
manage at smaller events, but it still recyclable containers, or provide municipal representatives,
takes planning. appropriate supplies to them.
festival organizers, and the
• Raise the awareness of organizers
and participants about waste public, the Festival successfully
management issues and the
recycled or composted over
establishment of a green event
through displays, flyers and 80% of the waste generated at
promotions.
the event by using the principles
• Provide a 3-stream waste station
for compostables, recyclables, in this guide.
and garbage.
w w w. r r f b. c o m 3Research & Planning
Identify Potential Waste Identify Disposal Determine the Waste
Materials Options and Alternatives Separation System for
Another important task of the Once you have identified potential the Event
Waste–Resource Management waste materials, consider each one The Waste–Resource Management
Committee/ Coordinator is to individually to determine disposal Committee/Coordinator will need
determine what waste materials will options and possible alternatives. to research and determine what type
be generated at the event and what Your Regional Waste Reduction of waste separation system will be
other waste might arrive at the event Coordinator will be able to help you appropriate for the event. Waste
from surrounding businesses or assemble this vital information. receptacles can be purchased, rented,
activities. Establish a list of waste Contact RRFB Nova Scotia for the borrowed, or constructed and can
products, and if possible, identify name of a Regional Waste Reduction range from complex designs to a
each material and the quantity that Coordinator serving your area. simple row of individual containers.
will be produced. When planning a waste station for
Think About:
You might consider contacting your event, be sure to consider your
organizers of other similar-sized • Is the material banned from
budget, anticipated quantities and
events for advice. Vendors attending disposal?
types of waste, and the durability of
your event may also be able to help • Is the material recyclable? the system.
estimate waste quantities by providing Compostable? Reusable? Subject
estimates of expected sales of food Important Considerations:
to a deposit/refund?
and beverages. • Each waste stream should be
• Could a recyclable, compostable, or
represented by a specific colour:
Important Considerations: reusable product be used instead of
blue for recycling, green for
• Will food or beverages be served? a disposable product?
organics, and black for garbage.
If so, what type of beverage • Could packaging be reduced or
containers and utensils will be used? • The shape of each slot is key:
eliminated by changing how a
narrow for paper, round for
• What types of containers/packaging particular product is served?
recycling, square for garbage
are likely to arrive at your site? • Could a particular waste item be and rectangle for organics.
• Are there other businesses in the eliminated from the event through
• A lid on the organics container will
area that may inadvertently an event policy?
prevent contamination.
contribute waste to your site?
• Containers should have slanted tops
• What activities will occur at your so that waste will not be left on top.
event and what waste products will
be produced? • Place recycling, composting and
To view a wide variety of waste garbage containers side by side. This
will lessen the likelihood of all
receptacles, visit RRFB Nova
material getting thrown into the
Scotia’s website at www.rrfb.com, same container.
and click ‘resources’.
4 1-877-313-RRFB (7732)Signage For Waste Cost Recovery
Stations If budgets are tight, here are a
• Use simple and clear signs that show couple of ideas for recovering some
people what goes in each container. of the costs associated with greening
Use graphics with minimal text. your event.
• Signs should be located at eye-level, • Vendor Stewardship - The
preferably on the top (back) of the majority of waste produced on site
container. often comes from vendors, so have
them share the responsibility for
• For larger events, you should some of the expenses related to
consider training volunteers to waste management. Costs could be
educate visitors about proper incorporated into booth/vendor fees
waste separation and the system or could be calculated as a separate
your event is using. This will help charge based on the quantity of
reduce contamination in the waste generated.
different containers. The Deposit/Refund System can
• The provincial Deposit/Refund
• RRFB Nova Scotia sells colourful System applies to all ready-to-serve be used to encourage volunteer
bilingual signage for public waste beverage containers sold in Nova
containers. The signs are suitable for organizations to assist with the
Scotia (excluding milk). Collect
indoor and outdoor use and are redeemable beverage containers greening of your event.
available at cost. Contact RRFB separate from other recyclable
Nova Scotia for more information. containers (or separate them after
Community-based clubs and
the event) and take them to one groups may be interested in
of over 87 Enviro-Depots across the
province for a 5 cent refund. Nickels assisting with your waste
can quickly add up to dollars that management efforts in exchange
can be applied to waste management
costs. Contact RRFB Nova Scotia for the refunds collected on
for the location of an ENVIRO-
redeemable beverage containers.
DEPOT™ near the event.
w w w. r r f b. c o m 5Partnerships
Volunteers and Staff Waste Haulers Check out the Directory of Solid
Waste, Reuse, Recycling and
Volunteers and staff are important to Depending on the size of your event,
Composting Contacts on the website
the overall success of greening your you may have to contract a local
of the Nova Scotia Department of
event. Volunteers and staff, who are hauler to collect recyclables,
Environment and Labour
properly trained in responsible waste organics, and garbage from the event.
(www.gov.ns.ca/enla/emc/wasteman)
management practices, can encourage Once you have determined the types
for information about haulers and
visitors to participate in greening the and quantities of waste expected, you
facilities serving your area, and/or
event. To be effective, volunteers and should contact a hauler to make the
ask your Regional Waste Reduction
staff should understand the Waste- necessary arrangements.
Coordinator for some help identi-
Resource Management Committee’s
As front-line service providers in the fying possible partners. Contact
goals and be included in the planning.
waste management industry, haulers RRFB Nova Scotia for the name
For larger events, it may be helpful have experience that might help you of a Regional Coordinator serving
to provide special shirts for your plan the greening of your event. your area.
volunteers so that they are easily During your discussions with a
For smaller events, waste volumes
recognizable to people looking for potential hauler, explain the goals of
may not justify waste pick-up or
waste separation information. your initiative. Haulers may be able
storage bins. In this case, trucking
to provide you with helpful
the recyclables, organics, and
information about the types of
waste directly to your local waste
collection containers best suited to
management facilities may be
your event, setting up waste stations,
more financially feasible. At
and other related aspects of waste-
smaller events you may find that
resource management. Your hauler
curbside collection is acceptable.
could be a valuable member on the
In this case, you will need to have
Waste-Resource Management
a place to store your materials until
Committee for the event.
collection day. Contact your local
municipality for details.
6 1-877-313-RRFB (7732)Important Considerations Vendors and Service Some ideas for
encouraging waste
• What materials does the hauler Providers reduction at the source:
collect? Garbage? Recyclables?
Most festivals or events include
Organics? • Encourage vendors to use dishes
participation from food, beverages,
and utensils that are compostable,
• How does the hauler charge? (It and merchandise vendors. Although
recyclable or reusable (e.g. paper
generally costs more to take waste vendors and service providers may not
plates instead of foam plates).
for disposal than it does to take be confirmed in the early stages of
organics to a compost facility, or planning, potential suppliers should • Discourage the use of unnecessary
recyclables to a recycling facility.) be told that your event will be green. disposable items such as plastic
By communicating your intentions straws and stir sticks.
• Will the hauler pick up and
transport waste, recyclables, and early, you will help develop a • Discourage single-serve containers
organics directly from your site? constructive partnership and increase for food and condiments (e.g., milk,
the likelihood of getting products and cream, sugar, ketchup, mustard).
• Will the hauler empty and/or collect services that will complement the
Serve these products in jugs, bowls,
waste, recyclables, and organics after goals of your event greening.
or bulk dispensers.
regular working hours?
• Purchase and sell beverages in store-
bought recyclable/refundable/refillable
containers where possible.
• Purchase products with recycled
content (e.g., napkins made of
recycled paper).
w w w. r r f b. c o m 7Communication
Promoting the greening of your event During the Event Ideas For Promoting the
will help gain public participation
toward your goals and provide an
• Make sure that the public is aware Greening of Your Event
of why you are greening the event • Send out a news release to local and
opportunity to teach others about the
and what waste separation system regional newspapers, and television
importance of waste reduction. As
has been put in place. and radio stations.
with all aspects of organizing an
event, communication must begin • Encourage participation by • Contact your local radio station and
early in the planning process and acknowledging the support of set up a radio interview.
continue throughout the event. vendors, service providers, and
the general public. • Produce a special brochure or flyer
Before the Event for the event.
• Make sure that vendors, service After the Event • Design a web page and link it to
providers, and people involved • Communicate with vendors, service provincial waste management sites
in other aspects of planning the providers and event organizers such as www.rrfb.com and
event are aware of your waste about your event greening www.gov.ns.ca/enla/emc/wasteman
reduction goals. achievements.
• Post information on community
• Inform local and regional media of • Communicate with local and bulletin boards and at public places.
your intentions. Your efforts to regional media about some of the
• Promote your goals - acknowledge
green your event will make a great success stories from the greening
public participation by making
news story. of your event. How much waste
announcements at the event.
was diverted through recycling and
Call RRFB Nova Scotia for the
composting? Was public partic- • Put up posters at the event.
name of a Waste Reduction
ipation high? Laminate signs and posters to
Educator in your area. The educator
ensure durability and to keep them
may be available to set up a display
in good condition for future use.
at your event highlighting waste
management programs and help
visitors understand why you have
chosen to green the event.
8 1-877-313-RRFB (7732)Monitoring
All the effort you put into planning On-Site Storage Pick Up and Delivery
for the event needs to be taken one
If you are collecting and storing your For larger events, pick-up and delivery
step further – putting the plan into
waste, recyclables, and organic services will need to be arranged in
action! Try to develop a team to share
materials on site, you will need advance. Arrange to have event staff
the responsibilities during the event –
storage bins. Some haulers or on-site to direct the hauler to the
perhaps members of the Waste-
municipal waste management location of the containers. Set a
Resource Management Committee
authorities will rent carts, bins, or collection schedule and have a
or a group of volunteers will be
dumpsters. Prior to delivery, the event contact number in case the bins
available to help.
committee must decide on the best fill up faster than anticipated.
Things To Do During location for the containers. They
For smaller events, make
should be kept close enough to the
the Event arrangements to have recyclables,
site so that waste, recyclables, and
• Monitor waste stations regularly. organics, and waste transported
organics can be transferred easily, but
If possible, post volunteers at waste off-site, if necessary, until regular
far enough away so that they don't
stations to ensure that waste is collection day.
interfere with event activities. It is
placed in the right receptacle. important that your hauler has easy
• Empty waste, recycling, and access to the bins so that, if necessary,
organics containers as needed. they can be emptied during the event
Emptying containers may be easier with minimal disturbance to Remember – litter breeds litter!
and less disruptive if you line participants. If waste stations and litter
containers with bags. Check with Separate storage containers will
your Regional Waste Reduction are not monitored and
be required for the different types
Coordinator about the the types of of waste. Have the materials separated managed during the event,
bags and liners that are accepted by according to the recycling guidelines
facilities in your region. of your municipality. There should
people will be less inclined to
• Keep your event litter free. be at least one large storage bin or separate their waste.
Occasional sweeps of the site should cart for every type of material
be conducted for litter or misplaced (garbage, recyclables, and organics).
waste. The number of bins will vary with the
type of event, the amount of waste
• Publicize waste management
expected, and the frequency of pick-up.
practices at the event. Encourage
participation by making announce- Alternatives to
ments and advertise that the event Storage Bins:
is “green” on event promotional If your budget is tight, you can use
materials. alternative storage bins such as fish
tubs, apple crates or steel barrels.
w w w. r r f b. c o m 9Clean-Up & Evaluation
Event sites should be left as clean and Determining Waste
undisturbed as they were prior to the
event. Conduct a thorough sweep of
Diversion Rates
the event site for litter or misplaced If event organizers are interested in
materials. Remove all temporary quantifying the amount of waste
structures such as waste receptacles diverted from disposal, you will need
and replace any original structures. to weigh the materials collected.
Clean all bins and carts prior to To determine your rate of
storing or returning them. Use a non- diversion you need to do the
toxic environmentally friendly cleaner following:
(dish soap works well) and a long • Keep an accurate count of the
handled brush or mop to clean them. number of bags used during the
As with any event or activity, all duration of the event. Keep track
the hard work you put into it should of the different waste streams
be assessed to help guide the greening separately (garbage, recycling,
of your next event. A written report organics).
should include contact information • Record the weight of several
for everyone involved in planning the bags of each waste material to
event, descriptions of what worked get an average or approximate
and what did not, and a list of weight per bag.
recommendations for improvements.
• Weight per bag x total no. of bags =
Look at each of the goals the
Total weight of that type of waste.
Waste–Resource Management
Committee set for the greening of the • Total weight of recyclables + total
event. What progress was made weight of organics = Total waste
towards achieving these goals? How diverted from disposal.
much waste was diverted from
disposal through recycling and
composting efforts? Was litter Every 350 kg (770 lbs)
successfully managed at your event? diverted is equivalent to the
approximate amount of waste
disposed of by one Nova Scotia
resident in one year!
10 1-877-313-RRFB (7732)Checklist
Event Greening Checklist
Identify stakeholders and the role they can play
Contact your Regional Waste Reduction Coordinator
(Call RRFB Nova Scotia at 1-877-313-RRFB (7732) for more information)
Collect information about recycling, composting, and other waste management programs in your area
Establish a Waste–Resource Management Committee
Appoint a Waste Reduction Coordinator
Identify your greening goals
Identify potential waste materials
Identify disposal options and alternatives
Design a waste separation system for the event
Choose suitable collection containers for garbage, recyclables, and organics
Communicate with vendors and service providers
Publicize your plans through local and regional media
Monitor waste stations and collection during the event
Evaluate your achievements
Acknowledge support of all stakeholders and organizers
Promote your successes.
w w w. r r f b. c o m 11Quick Tips
Quick Tips for Reducing • Limit the amount of potential waste • Recycle redeemable beverage
at events by adopting purchasing containers at Enviro-Depots.
Waste and Litter at practices that limit packaging.
• Donate leftover materials to other
Public Events
• Avoid unnecessary services and organizations.
• Keep signs and posters simple. Do production of materials.
not use logos or dates so that signs • Call RRFB Nova Scotia for the
can be reused at future events. • Discourage single-serve containers name and number of a Regional
for food and condiments. Serve Waste Reduction Coordinator
• Use graphics with minimal text to them in bulk dispensers, or bowls serving your municipality. Regional
illustrate where waste should go. (milk, sugar, ketchup). Coordinators can provide you with
• Set up a drop-off box for event- important information about
• Plan in advance: buy what you need
related flyers, posters and other recycling and composting programs
and return what you do not use.
paper products, on or near the in your area and help you find
event site. Flyers can be reused • Avoid materials, supplies or composting and recycling facilities
or recycled. equipment that are hazardous, and haulers.
wasteful and non-recyclable.
• Use reusable dishes and cutlery or
compostable paper plates and cups. • Recycle waste materials such as
paper, plastic, and glass through
• Borrow equipment and materials curbside programs or at local
if possible. recycling facilities.
• Colour code your containers: blue • Purchase and sell beverages in store-
for recycling, green for organics, and bought recyclable/refillable
black for garbage. containers where possible.
• Use different slot shapes to indicate • If possible, have your waste stations
material types: narrow for paper, made out of recycled materials
round for bottles, square for garbage and/or constructed locally.
and rectangle for organics.
12 1-877-313-RRFB (7732)For more information about RRFB
Nova Scotia and the programs that
have helped make Nova Scotians
recognized leaders in waste-resource
management, please contact us:
RRFB Nova Scotia
14 Court Street, Suite 305
Truro, Nova Scotia
B2N 3H7
Environment and Labour 1 877 313 RRFB (7732)
www.gov.ns.ca/enla/emc/wasteman Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper www.rrfb.comYou can also read
