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The information here is intended to provide festival and event planners with ideas that help reduce waste and improve recycling practices. Many of these recommendations have been successfully tried by other event planners locally and across the country. While the Wisconsin Be SMART Coalition can help by providing names and other information for waste reduction and recycling contacts, it cannot assume responsibility for the actual implementation, cost or the quality of the services provided.

It is a fair statement.  Fairs, festivals and events are a matter of state pride in Wisconsin.  And every year, no doubt your goal is to make your event bigger, better and more entertaining.  Along with the fun and festivity; however, comes mountains of trash.  Cash Not Trash has been created to show you how to reduce that trash, cut down on disposal costs and even generate extra income for your event.  The methods are easy to use and have already been tested at many festivals here and in other states.  There's no better way to make your event more cost efficient, environmentally friendly and a matter of pride for your whole community.

Waste Reduction, as the name implies, is anything that reduces waste by using less material in the first place.  It goes beyond what is required by Wisconsin's recycling law to save landfill space and conserve resources while helping to cut costs.

Be Smart - Save Money And Reduce Trash.  You can reduce waste in all your operations; it just takes a little thinking.  Consider what gets thrown away at your event and at your planning headquarters.  Chances are, much of it can be eliminated with smart purchasing and policy decisions that involve thinking about trash long before disposal time.  You'll probably come up with a number of ideas for reducing waste at your special event - it just takes a little creative thinking.  Encourage your employees and volunteers to get in on the brainstorming. Just to get you started, here are some areas to consider!

• Your planning team - communicate via e-mail to save paper and postage, and use mugs, not disposable for beverages at meetings.  For more ideas, on office waste reduction, call the Be Smart Information Hotline at 1-866-91-SMART.
• Getting the word out - streamline your announcements and invitations by using postcards or brochures with self-mailer panels to save envelopes and reduce postage. Use recycled paper and avoid printing too many extra - keep records and check your drop points for left overs after your event and use the information to refine your ordering from year to year.
• Decorations and landscaping - Go for durability, and keep waste reduction in mind as you plan.  Read the section "Waste Reduction at Ground Level" for specific information.
• Food Service - This is a big area for waste reduction; much of this kit is dedicated to it.  See both sections of " Our Cup Runneth Over," and also check out the "Festival Vendor Tips on waste Reduction."
• Inspiring the masses - Don't forget to let your crowd know about your waste reduction efforts.  Their support will help make your efforts successful, and besides, your deserve the credit.  Plus, you just might get them thinking about doing a little waste reduction of their own.

Public & Event Enemy No 1: The Disposable Cup

If your event is like most, your biggest trash-maker is the disposable cup.  The volume of trash created by cups leads to high disposal costs, more disposal pick-ups and litter on the grounds.  You can solve this messy problem the same way Milwaukee Irish Fest, German Fest and the Minnesota State Fair have with very successful cup refill, reuse and recycling programs.  These programs save waste disposal costs and turn event visitors into good environmental citizens.  The two sections of "Our cup Runneth Over" go into detail on how to promote cup reuse and refills, and how to recycle cups at your event.

Waste Reduction at Ground Level - The Event Grounds

Another way to combine clean and green at your event is to plan landscaping and maintenance with waste reduction in mind:

• Leave grass clipping on the ground to reduce waste and minimize the need for fertilizers.
• Save on your trash hauling bills by composting landscaping waste, manure and animal bedding, whenever possible.
• Use durable decorations and signs that can be used again and again.
• Consider renting decorations and props.
• Recycling your corrugated cardboard, office paper, newspaper, used cooking oil, glass bottles & jars, aluminum & steel cans, and No.1 & No.2 plastic bottles.  You can find out what materials Wisconsin state law requires your to recycle by referring to the Department of Natural Resources "Special Events (PDF)".

Volunteers get excited when they learn you're holding an environmentally-friendly event, so use it as a recruiting tool!

Buy Recycled.  It's Easy.   Purchase Supplies Made With Recycled Materials

Here's a simple way to get into the environmental act.  Buy recycled supplies for your event.  By purchasing supplies made with recycled materials, you are not only helping preserve resources, you are strengthening the markets for those materials, making the entire economic chain of recycling work better.   There's an excellent supply of recycled paper products, cardboard and other materials.  Make sure your supplier orders recycled-content napkins, paper towels, etc.  These items can be manufactured with "post-consumer recycled content," meaning that they contain the paper that is collected from offices and residences nationwide.  More tips: Ask your suppliers to transport products with reusable boxes and with recyclable packaging.  In your contracts with cleaning staff, ask that they use non-toxic cleaners. 

People Power - Getting Vendors Involved

When people combine efforts, they can make a world of difference.  So, a key to making waste reduction a part of your event is gaining participation by all your vendors.  With their assistance, you can save more, and provide a cleaner, more friendly atmosphere for everyone.  Here are a few simple steps to making vendor participation a reality:

• If you contract with vendors, provide them with "Festival Vendor Tips on Waste Reduction" sheets.
• Let vendors know about your plans and how they'll be asked to participate.
• Make specifications in vendor contracts if appropriate.  Consider specifying recycled-content in the products that you and your vendors buy for your festival.  Include in your specifications the type of plastic they should use to complement your recycling program.  Make sure they bring refill-compatible beverage dispensers.
• Overall, ask your vendors to use less packaging and wrappings whenever possible.