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Waste reduction can take many forms. When Choosing a strategy suited to you event, consider logistics, costs, and your crowd. The following ten ideas provide an overview of strategies for reducing cup waste at events. Some take time and an initial investment while others can be implemented at a moment's notice. Look for specific tips for planning souvenir cup refill and recycling programs in the "Cash Not Trash Event Planner's Guide to Waste Reduction."

Large drink option - Have a regular size and a big size. Fast food places and movie theaters sell extra large drinks that are about twice the size of a regular drink. Assuming the drink is consumed, the big cups reduce waste, save money, and allow people to spend more time enjoying the festival and less time standing in line. This may take pressure off the vendors too - handling two prices adds a little time to each transaction but reduces the number of transactions without reducing revenues.

Refills - Encourage people to reuse cups at the event to reduce waste and save money. Appropriate beverage dispensers are needed to prevent health risks in the case of soda (beer taps are OK). This works better with an incentive, like a discount for refills or a chance to enter a contest with each refill.

Use of souvenir cups - Give people a drink in a cup that's so nice, they'll want to take it home. This reduces waste and advertises your event year round. Some events charge more for a drink in a souvenir cup so that only the people who want to keep the cup will get one. This ensures that the cups, which may be bulkier and more expensive than disposable cups, don't end up in the trash at your event. And you can make more money that way. Souvenir cups are available in many colors and designs, including clear or translucent plastic which helps when monitoring for underage drinking.

Souvenir cups and refills - To get the most waste reduction and advertising benefits out of souvenir cups, allow people to use them for refills. A person is more likely to carry the cup all day and take it home if they can use it repeatedly at the event. Also, people might want one as a souvenir, but probably not a whole set. Refilling the cup ensures that it will serve to reduce waste and promote your event, and saves money on cup purchases. A discount or other incentive helps to increase refills, although refill programs with no incentive have had success. If the souvenir cup holds more at no extra charge, pointing that out to customers will serve as a good incentive for refills and for buying the cup in the first place.

Disposable pitchers - Getting people to reuse disposable cups by offering pitchers reduces waste, saves money, shortens lines and reduces demands on vendors - but only if servers refrain from handling out cups with each pitcher. To make this strategy work, servers should ask, "Do you already have cups?" and only give cups to those who do not.

Refillable pitchers - Encourage people to reuse pitchers and cups as a way to make the refill transaction completely waste free. A more durable pitcher that people may want to keep and take home could be considered. Again, incentives help refill programs perform. This option saves money on cups, pitchers, and waste hauling.

Returnable pitchers - If your event has access to diswashers, rent or buy a bunch of pitchers and charge a deposit on them. Wash them after they're returned for the deposit.

Aluminum cans and recycling** - You'll have little trash at your event if every drink is served in an aluminum can. Have recycling containers and recruit a member or charitable group to take the cans. You may find that someone removes all the cans without being asked. The trade-off is cost and keeping the drinks cold. If you already use aluminum cans at your event, be advised that they must be recycled under Wisconsin law.

PET or glass and recycling** - PET plastic bottles and glass can be collected for recycling. Any recycling program requires lots of clear signs to ensure that festival goers put the right materials in the right bins. Glass is often prohibited at festivals. Recycling markets for plastic soda bottles and water bottles exist, although it's not very profitable currently. The main economic benefit comes from savings in waste hauling costs. If you event does use glass, recycling makes a big difference in the weight of your trash. It should be mentioned that PET and glass bottles are required to be recycled under Wisconsin law.

Recycling of plastic cups** - Contact recyclers to find out if there is a market for the plastic disposable cups you see. Sometimes there is, and you may find that choosing a specific kind of cup will make recycling feasible. Clear signs are needed to prevent other materials from being placed in recycling containers, as contamination is the biggest obstacle to cup recycling. First look into cup reduction and reuse, then explore this option.

* A note about refills: Beverage dispensers that touch the lip of the cup cannot be used for refills, because disease could be transmitted in this way. The Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services prohibits refills of cups using such dispensers. Refills of pitchers using such machines are acceptable. Beverage dispensers that do not touch the lip of the cup are preferred. If you plan to implement a refill program, specify the type of dispensers your vendors must use.

** A note about recycling: To ensure recycling success, have plenty of signs informing your crowd of the program, use recycling containers that look different from trash containers, and place recycling containers near trash containers. A recycling container with a small round opening reduces contamination by preventing plates and other larger trash items from being placed in the container.