Waste Stations

Best Practices
The number of people and kinds of materials generated at your event and how you manage the waste afterward determines how many sorting stations, monitors and supplies needed as well as the type of signage.
1) Number & Locations
2) Waste Streams
3) Signage
4) Monitors
5) Supplies
Number and Locations

Accessible waste stations reduce littering and improves participation.
Have at least 1 waste station for every 25 people up to 300. For larger events, contact your hauler.
In larger events, place them in key locations, like:
- entrances / exits
- foot-traffic areas or near eating, dancing, bathrooms
- where the venue currently has landfill/trash receptacles

Large events may need more bins at each station rather than more stations, which requires more monitors.
Waste Streams
The types of bins and labels depend on the waste materials your event will generate. Ask or direct vendors/caterers
regarding types of packaging, food and beverage containers, flatware and napkins that will be used. 

Design sorting station collection bins based on the items you are collecting:
  • Reusables: into bus bins or washing station
  • Liquids: into bus bins or compost.  
  • Recyclables (clean only): Set up rinse station, if possible
  • Deposits: deposit cans and bottles
  • Food Scraps: Only those materials approved by your hauler or outlet.  
  • Landfill: What remains and cannot be reused, recycled, or composted.
​
Consistency: Use the same bins in the same order with the same signage at each station to avoid confusion. 
Based on number of people expected and activities planned, be sure to have enough bags.
Signage​
Signs at each station help guests correctly sort their items.
  • Clear wording: Be concise. Use words, like:  RECYCLING, COMPOST, LIQUID, LANDFILL
  • Visibility: Ensure signs are high and large enough to see easily.
  • Photos/Images: Correspond colors of bins and images/photos of what belongs in them, or adhere actual examples to the sign.
  • Durable: Laminate paper signs to survive weather.

Clear bags help monitors remove contamination and put bags to the right dumpster.
 

Station Monitors


​Friendly, well-trained station monitors help attendees sort items into the right bins, change out bins when they are full, and correct any contamination. Each station needs at least one monitor unless it is a small event with trained attendees.
​Please use the Overview document to train your volunteers.
​Contact us if you have questions.
Monitors should know:
  • General requirements for recycling at events
  • What can/cannot be recycled or composted
  • Where collected materials belong and how they need to be treated
  • How to help attendees and vendors place materials into the correct bin
And be provided with:
  • a quick reference list
  • access to event, or other perks (such as meal ticket or t-shirt)
 Picture
​​
Supplies

You can stock all your supplies at one central location, or distribute enough at each sorting station.  Clearly label supply storage containers with contents and contact info.
​Essentials:
  • Bags
  • Gloves
  • Long-handled grabbers
  • Tape - heavy duty for taping materials and signs to bins
  • Pens/markers
  • Volunteer IDs (e.g. name tags/lanyards, buttons, t-shirts, vests, etc.)
​