Erase Your Trace - Special Event Recycling

10 steps to recycling your event

1. Designate a Waste Reduction Coordinator to head your green strategy.

2. Determine the amount of waste likely to be generated at your event.  If you are selling beverages, choose recyclable containers such as aluminum cans and plastic bottles. (Glass bottles are not allowed at Washoe County, City of Reno and City of Sparks special events.) Plastic cups cannot be recycled locally, although compostable cups are avaliable with our Zero-Waste program.

3. Decide whether you will manage collecting recyclables, or need to have Waste Management collect them. Order recycling dumpsters.

4. Discuss your recycling plan with a trash hauling company well before your event so they can determine what is required.

5. Line up staff/volunteers to be on hand for event recycling.

6. Recycling containers should look different from regular trash cans. Label recycling containers well, or ask Waste Management to include its specially marked bins in your contract.

7. Make recycling easy for event-goers by placing recycling and trash containers together at well-traveled locations, such as food vendor spots, restrooms, seating areas and exits.

8. Have staff/volunteers at recycling bins to explain sorting system and remove contaminants from recycling bins.

9. Inform event vendors and exhibitors of the location of recycling dumpsters for corrugated cardboard, or have have volunteers collect the cardboard for recycling at designated locations.

10. If you produce an event brochure or map, remember to include recycling and waste reduction information.

 

how we can help your organization

Recycling: EcoNet will assist you turn your special event "green" with an easy-to-follow plan, consulting services and logistical and educational support to coordinate all your recycling.  Our Link-a-Bag recycling bin system, with instructional signs, clear 56-gallon plastic bags and tongs to remove contaminants, is free except for $200 refundable deposit to cover possible damage and cleaning fees.  Please call for more details on EcoNet's recycling program.

Zero-Waste: Go the extra mile and go Zero-Waste at your special event. All "trash" is segregated (compost bins for food waste and biodegradable serving ware; recycling bins for aluminum cans and plastic bottles). EcoNet will assist you start-to-finish go Zero-Waste. Just call us four to six months before your event and we'll give you the details. EcoNet charges a fee for this service.

Purpose: The Erase Your Trace program aims to lessen the ecological impact of the hundreds of local special events in the Reno-Sparks-Tahoe area. With over one million people attending special events in Northern Nevada, the amount of plastic, glass, aluminum and cardboard sent to our landfill can be substantially reduced by implementing recycling measures at these events.Nevada EcoNet wants to make recycling and waste reduction as easy as possible for event organizers.

With help from Erase Your Trace, events can reduce the amount of waste they generate through careful planning, recycling and composting. Special events can benefit by potentially cutting event costs and helping to further improve our community. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people will have the opportunity to learn more about proper waste disposal options at these events.

History: The Erase Your Trace program was inspired by the success of zero waste efforts at Northern Nevada’s Earth Day celebrations, which feature compost bins for disposal of food waste; biodegradable serving ware and utensils; recycling bins; compost bin monitors to answer questions on composting; and educational signs explaining how attendees should dispose of their waste. Food scraps, paper, and biodegradable cutlery and cups were combined with wood chips and cow manure and composted into nutrient-rich humus, which is donated back to the City of Reno for Idlewild Park's rose garden. Nevada EcoNet's Earth Day waste reduction efforts result in 80% of the event's waste being diverted from the landfill and the recovery of more than 1,500 pounds of recyclable and compostable materials. more than 1,000 pounds of compostable waste being diverted from the local landfill and the recovery of more than 500 pounds of recyclable materials.