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The Minnesota State Fair hosts almost 1.7 million visitors annually from around the Midwest. Used plastic cups make up the majority of their waste. The Fair has addressed this problem with a polystyrene cup recycling program that has become very successful. After seven years of experience, they have some recommendations for others who are interested in starting such a program:

• All the cups used at the Fair are made of the same type (resin) of plastic. This is crucial to the success of the recycling program. The Fair determined that it would not be feasible to separate cups made out of different resins, and the recycling companies did not have markets for mixed plastics.
  
• All cups are made of foam polystyrene, which is suitable for both hot and cold beverages.
  
• All vendors must purchase their cups from the Fair, at cost. Fair officials say that initially there was some concern when they introduced this policy, especially from the vendors who receive free cups from soda companies, but "now it's accepted as part of doing business at the Fair."
  
• The cups have the Minnesota State Fair logo on them, but not a date, which means that overruns can be used at the next year's Fair.
  
• The Fair buys cups in volume - 4.9 million cups in 1997 - in order to get good prices. The Fair sells the cups to the vendors for: $22.25 per 1000 8 oz. cups, $29.75 per 1000 12 oz. cups and $41.75 per 600 33 oz. cups.
  
• The Fair will buy back large numbers of leftover cups (cases of 1000 or more).
  
• However, over the years vendors have become adept at estimating the number of cups they will use, reducing overbuys substantially.
  
• Recycling bins for collecting the cups are placed next to every trash barrel on the grounds, about every 20 yards. This is crucial to their recycling program's success.
  
• French fry vendors at the Fair do not use cups to serve their product. The local Health Department expressed concern that fresh, hot fries would melt the polystyrene cups. Fries are served in paperboard cartons, which are not recycled.
  
• The recycling program has been cost-neutral when compared to previous waste management practices. The Fair feels that recycling is "the right thing to do" and is committed to continuing.

For more information about the Fair's cup recycling program, call Dennis Larson at 612-642-2488 or call the Be Smart Information Hotline at 1-866-91-SMART.