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A cup recycling program is another great way to help the environment and reduce trash pick-ups at your event. Based on experience from other events, here are some tips on how to run a successful cup recycling program.

The Most Important Point: For maximum effectiveness of a cup recycling program, pick one type of plastic! In your contracts with vendors, specify the type of plastic cups they bring to your event.   Talk to your recyclers about the types of plastic that can be accepted and how they should be collected, then choose a cup that will complement the program. If all of the cups on the grounds are made of the same type of plastic, they can all be recycled together. This will greatly reduce both the complexity and the cost of your recycling program.

Running a Smooth Program: The following five points cannot be emphasized enough. If done, you can have a smooth, effective recycling program to help you save money and reduce trash.

Make sure the recycling bin looks substantially different than the trash bin. If you are recycling cups, the recycling container could have a small, cup-sized hole in it and be clearly labeled on the top 'Recycle Cups Here.'
Make sure to have recycling and trash bins in the same location.
Large signs on the recycling bins are essential! If you are recycling cups, you may want to attach a cup to the recycling bin to show festival-visitors exactly what to recycle. Also, large, clear signs that see pictures and "Recycle Cups Here" messages work well.	At your collection site, be sure to always place trash containers and recycling bins next to each other.
Monitor the recycling containers. Monitor the bins to eliminate contamination, make sure they are next to a trash bin, empty  them as needed, and re-attach signs.
Consider borrowing or buying a small baler to bale the cups.  This reduces the volume of cups considerably and reduces your frequency/cost of hauling. Check with your hauler about implementing this idea.
Selecting A Recycling and Refuse Hauler: So, you're into recycling and waste reduction for the long haul. Great move! Now, it's time to think about hauling-specifically who's going to haul away the recyclables you collect and the waste that you can't recycle. Here are some questions to consider when choosing a hauler: How are services and charges arranged? What materials will be separated for recycling? Are you charged per container or per pickup (pull)? Do you, the event organizer, have to call the hauler when you need a container emptied, or does the hauler check on the containers themselves? What does the hauler do with the materials they collect? Is there a buyer set up for the materials you generate? What will happen to these materials after collection? Is one material easier to sell than another? (This may help you decide which plastic to use.)
A list of experienced event waste haulers can be found here or check the Yellow Pages under "Rubbish and Garbage Removal."