Are you looking forward to hosting your next big fundraiser? Hoping to attract a new crowd with a band or fair? Don’t let your excitement for the crowd overshadow one of the most essential parts of an event—waste management. Dealing with the trash left behind by excited attendees is critical to maintaining the space, staying friendly with the venue, and keeping your crowd excited to return next year!
The logistical hurdle of event waste management is not as big as you might think, but it requires some planning experience. Responsible waste management focuses on giving your attendees every opportunity to recycle, compost, and appropriately dispose of trash – without patronizing or pushing them. Throughout this process, large containers like roll-off dumpsters and recycling bins can be used to efficiently organize your garbage.
What You Need to Know About Waste From Events
One of the most important things about the events industry is that food waste will likely be your biggest concern. Food will be at least a fifth of your event’s trash by weight but could be as much as half of it. And that’s not even including food packaging materials!
The rest of your trash will be event items like banners, signage, displays, and decor. Some of the worst offenders in event waste are balloons, streamers, and other easy-to-produce single-use decor. Don’t stifle your planner or decorator’s creativity, but acknowledging the garbage produced from decorations can help guide you towards sustainable, lower-waste decorations in the future.
How Much Waste Should I Expect From Attendees?
Roughly one pound per person, but this amount could vary depending on your event. An eco-friendly green event will likely produce much less waste than a music festival. Consider your offerings. Are meals provided? Is there an open bar? Gauge your audience and adjust your event waste management strategy around their lifestyles.
We use one pound per person as an easy rule of thumb because people will likely eat and drink at your event. Whether you are serving food, have invited food vendors, or the event organizers expect visitors to bring their own food, people will eat, and that meal will have leftover waste—which will likely amount to one pound on average.
How Do I Reduce Waste at My Event?
The best methods to reduce event waste are from event planning. Everyone can strategize their way to a cleaner event space, from food vendors to event planners. If you want to reduce event waste, you should communicate effective strategies throughout the planning process to your team, such as:
- Reuse banners and decorations rather than throwing them away
- Utilize digital signage on grounds when possible
- Consider caterers and event planners who prioritize event waste management strategies
- Communicate attendance expectations to prevent over-ordering food
- Use compostable and biodegradable packaging and utensils
- Focus on reusable souvenirs and swag, like bags and cups
- Ensure recycling and trash containers are clearly labeled and easily accessible
There are many ways that individuals within your local community, your event planning committee, and staff on-site can provide their input into what they have noticed are significant sources of waste and trash. Use these as a starting point and open communication channels to keep people talking.
Simplify Your Event with a Dumpster Rental from Cobblestone Waste Management
Events produce trash, from your kids’ birthday parties to the most prominent sports game. The key to successful event waste management planning efforts is to ensure that every event has ample containers to handle and separate your trash.
Recycling Bins
Recycling is one of the best ways to reduce carbon emissions and prevent waste from ending up in landfills. With personal responsibility and greener, more sustainable events being discussed today, recycling bins are an excellent way for venues to promote a green event and look good to event attendees.
Roll-Off Dumpsters
Roll-off dumpster rentals are one of the easiest ways to manage large amounts of event trash. These are designed for quick drop-off and pick-up, ensuring the easiest waste disposal experience possible. Large events can make great use of dumpsters throughout their operations.
Get Fast and Friendly Event Waste Management
Keeping an event clean is critical for public appearances, staff health, and attendee happiness. You don’t want foul odors and debris ruining a good time. Keep your waste moving out with fast and friendly event waste management services from an experienced company like ours.
Cobblestone Waste Management has more than 20 years of service providing friendly and capable waste management to events nationwide! We are a service company that can provide the easiest experience possible when handling your event waste. Call us today!
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