"Innovations" Case Studies: Recycling at Special Events

Costs, Economics, and Benefits

Special events always have trash collection and disposal costs. Integrating recycling into waste management systems often does not increase total waste management costs and can sometimes reap savings for event organizers. Recycling program costs include equipment costs, labor costs, transportation costs, tip fees, advertising costs, and administration costs. Revenues from the sale of recyclables and avoided disposal costs can often offset program costs.

Equipment Costs

Additional equipment such as recycling containers, rolloffs for storage, and signage are usually needed to implement a program for recycling at special events. Venues that own their trash collection equipment may be able to save money on recycling equipment by converting existing equipment for use in the recycling program. For example, as trash disposal decreases, extra dumpsters could be used for storage of recyclables.

An investment to purchase recycling equipment will often not be cost-effective for organizers of individual events. Consider renting it or hiring a recycling contractor who can provide the necessary equipment.

Labor Costs

Like equipment, labor can often be shifted from trash programs to recycling programs. Even so, total waste management labor needs will likely be higher when handling event discards in multiple streams. Event organizers can keep these costs in check by using volunteers.

• Example: Penn State reduced labor needs for post-game stadium and grounds cleanup by 15 percent after it began recycling. Local scouts staff recycling stations before and during the games. Afterward, a corps of recycling volunteers remove discarded recyclables left by game attendees and tailgaters.

Transportation Costs

Implementing a recycling program can cause overall waste management transportation costs to change. The change may be an increase or decrease depending on recycling program characteristics and the existing waste management system.

• Example: If markets for recyclables are nearer than the waste disposal site used, total transportation costs may decrease, and vice versa. Some recycling companies may provide pickup services, reducing transportation costs to event organizers. Implementing on-site systems for handling materials can eliminate transportation costs for these materials.
• Example: Del Mar Fairgrounds composts preconsumer food discards generated at its satellite wagering facility in worm bins located on the infield of its racetrack. By doing so, the fairgrounds eliminates the need to transport the material to an off-site composter.

Tip Fees

Market conditions influence tip fees that must be paid for recyclables. Market fluctuations mean that recyclers sometimes must pay processors tip fees. Sometimes they earn revenue from the sale of recyclables, and sometimes they can tip them for free.

Advertising Costs

Advertising recycling at special events can increase participation, but it can also increase costs. In general, including advertising about the recycling program in other messages promoting the event can minimize costs. Event organizers may also seek an organization to sponsor their recycling efforts.

The sponsor may help defray total program costs in addition to underwriting advertising costs. Potential sponsors include waste management or recycling companies, environmental organizations or consulting firms, or companies that produce goods from recycled feedstock.

Administration Costs

Because recycling programs are more complex than traditional waste disposal systems, venues and event organizers that implement recycling programs will generally see administration costs increase. The need for recruiting and training staff and volunteers, managing contracts with recycling service providers, and additional program oversight can all increase program costs.

Material Revenues

Many recyclable materials have value and can be sold for revenue. Aluminum, scrap metal, corrugated cardboard, and office paper have generally had a positive value even at times when processors have charged tip fees for other commodities. In California and other bottle bill states, redemption of deposit containers can generate revenue much greater than the scrap value of the containers.

• Example: Del Mar Fairgrounds and its tenant, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, sold nearly 2,600 tons of recyclables in 1998. This generated more than $23,000 in revenues.

Avoided Costs

Recycling can help event organizers and venues avoid costs of purchasing materials and tipping trash at landfills. Avoided refuse tip fees can often offset all other program costs so that recycling is a net money-saving program.

• Example: Del Mar Fairgrounds uses compost produced through its on-site vermicomposting program as fertilizer. In 1998 the compost helped the fairgrounds avoid the purchase of other fertilizers.
• Example: Loyola-Marymount University in Los Angeles, Calif., annually saves so much in avoided refuse tip fees through recycling at its sports arena that the savings more than offset all costs of program implementation. The university’s recycling coordinator now says, “We can’t afford not to recycle.”

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Last updated: October 26, 2007