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Planning Recycling for your Events

I. Pre-Planning

1. Create or join the committee concerned with keeping the event clean.
2. Review the committee's organizational mission and see the correlation between recycling goals and your organization's vision.
   1. Evaluate the possibility of using ClearStreams to increase visibility at your event.
   2. Recycling companies/organizations/committees would be perfect to team up with.
3. Communicate your goals to all levels of the organization.
4. Establish strategies to reach the goals.
5. Develop a budget based on your strategic plan.
6. Determine how you will measure success.
7. If you work with private vendors like haulers or cleaning companies, make sure they submit a bid that includes your recycling plan.
8. Communicate your recycling plan to everyone involved.
9. Many states enforce local recycling regulations. Contact your city or county for this important information before planning your event.
10. Determine the appropriate press to reach out to, not only regarding your event but also how you are going green.

II. Using ClearStream at your Event

1. Before the event:
   1. Identify the length of your event
      1. The longer the event, the more bags you will need.
      2. Overnight security should be arranged for multiple day events.
         
   2. Identify what is being sold at your event (aluminum, plastic, bottles, cups, etc.)
      
      1. What do you want to recover?
      2. Set a standard with your food vendors so only recyclable products are being used to serve food and drinks.
         
   3. Approximate the number of people expected to attend the event.
      
      1. Use the number of attendees from the previous year as a basis.
         
      2. Weather conditions will also be a factor.
         
   4. How many garbage cans will be on site?
      
      1. One ClearTainers ClearStream for each garbage can is the optimum number for your event. Depending on the size, finances may restrict such a number.
         
      2. The ClearStream Recycler and TrashMax successfully control litter and recycling, as a complete system. (Use ClearTainers CycleMax)
         
   5. When plotting out the areas, include where ClearStreams and other garbage units will be placed. ClearStreams should always be placed next to normal garbage units.
      
      1. Make sure they are located in visible and appropriate areas.
         
      2. Place near food vendors and sporadically through out the event.
         
   6. What disposal company will service the event?
      
      1. Speak to the service provider about central recycling containers (roll carts or cardboard dumpsters). Find out how they want the material, and what they are prepared to pay.
         
      2. Work with your hauler to “right size” the container, estimating the recovery of approximately 75 - 90% of recyclables. If recycling constitutes the biggest part of the waste, you may be able to reduce the size of or eliminate the transportation and rental of large containers like roll off boxes. This saves the expense of eliminating the cost to land fill the collected recyclables.
         
   7. Will you use volunteers to set up the trash cans and recycling units? How many? What is the name and phone number of the person in charge of the volunteers?
      
   8. Schedule a pick up/drop off time for the ClearStream Units.
      
   9. Have the volunteers attach decals to the units at least a day prior to your event, if this has not already been done
      
   10. Train volunteers
       
       1. Start with your janitorial/cleaning crew early on. Get their input; assure them it does not add additional work. Teach them to properly secure bags and attach lids to the frame. Make sure the supervisors are trained on how to get them on/off the frames and they in turn will train their support staff.
          
       2. A short bilingual training video is provided on our instructions page. Use it to communicate set up instructions to Spanish speaking crew members.
          Teach them to notice heavy traffic areas and move units to those areas.
          
   11. Ask volunteers to wear pants with deep pockets or supply them with a bag to carry the bags.
       
       1. Perfect opportunity to use tote bags with ads on them.
          
       2. Get some bags with your sponsor/event information .
          
2. Setting up:
   
   1. Set up the units the day before if possible.
      
      1. If you restrict people from bringing beverage containers into your gates, have units available to dispose of containers right outside the gate. If you do not allow any containers to leave your facility, (for example: alcoholic beverages into the parking lot), have units available at the exit for disposal.
         
      2. Place your remaining ClearStream units evenly throughout the event trying to cover as much area as possible of your entire facility.
         
   2. ALWAYS place a ClearStream beside a trash container, this will eliminate litter and increase recycling at your event.
      
   3. “Seeding” or putting a few recyclables in each container before the event starts is helpful.
3. During the Event
   
   1. In the morning send volunteers around your event site to place bags on the previously set out ClearStream units.
      
   2. Putting the bags on the day of the event is recommended.
      
   3. Make sure volunteers are collecting and replacing bags when they are 2/3 full.
      
   4. Keep the lids clean by wiping them down with rags as necessary.
      
   5. Move units to heavy traffic areas if you notice problems.
      
   6. Record all information about the event in a notebook for future use.
      
4. After the Event
   
   1. Move the remaining recyclable material to the central recycling containers and take down the ClearStreams.
      
   2. Check the frames and lids to insure they are clean.
      
   3. Repack the units and return them to storage.
      
   4. If you reuse the master carton be sure the bottom and top frames hinges are facing IN to avoid damage to the carton. Frames are easier to hang and stack when they are tied together in bundles of 3 or more.
      
   5. Another transportation option is a custom trailer, lined with hooks to transport and store units securely.
      
   6. See “Transporting ClearStreams” on our website for more information about getting your ClearStreams to storage.