How to organise events

Waste management

Environmental sustainability

Picture of people placing waste in a waste bin.

Picture of waste and litter left after an event.

Environmental sustainability is increasingly important to venue operators, the audience and sponsors, and should be incorporated into your planning.

While this is a relatively new area of emphasis in New Zealand, we already have some excellent case studies showing how the impact of events on the environment can be mitigated.

Sustainability can be explained as meeting the needs of today, without adversely impacting on the needs of tomorrow. As a term, it can be applied across a range of areas, such as the environment, society and the economy. Information on this website focuses on the environmental impact of events, with particular emphasis on the most tangible of environmentally sustainable practices - waste management planning.

Research into best practice for environmentally sustainable events is evolving and we will be listing new resources to assist organisers in planning sustainable events.

A waste management plan is required if your event has a high waste content like:

mailers
food stalls
giveaways
large scale catering
or if the event is in a sensitive area.

The plan should describe the kind of waste that will be on site and how you will be contain and remove it. This is also an opportunity to consider recycling at your event.

Waste management plan - example

Venue waste management plan for celebration lunch

Please note some details have been altered for this example.

Event venue	Circus Square
Event date	21 June 2005
Event type	Luncheon
Event details	A barbecue luncheon situated in a large u-shape row of tents, with a stand-alone kitchen tent at the north end of the event area (see site plan).
Food served	The format of the luncheon will be platters of cold items placed on the tables as guests arrive, and hot items will arrive from the temporary kitchen in four courses throughout the function.
Type of waste to be disposed	355mm glass beer bottles - approx 2000 355mm aluminium cans - approx 100 750mm wine bottles - approx 250 22cm disposable plates - approx 1000 assorted food waste assorted food packaging 12cm square paper serviettes - approx 2500.
Method in which the waste will be disposed	Food waste will be bagged and disposed of in 12 x 160L wheelie bins with liners. Bottle waste will be bagged and disposed of in 10 x 160L wheelie glass bins. Temporary kitchen will have a 6m x 3m tarpaulin positioned under the ovens and barbecue, to secure any food waste or fat from soiling the cobblestones beneath. At the end of the function, the tarpaulin will be gathered up, taped and placed in a food waste wheelie bin. xxx contractors have been organized to collect all loose litter from and around the event area after the function and water blast where needed. The bins will leave the venue on a high walled cage trailer by 9am on Saturday, 22 June.
Contractor name	xxx
Contractor contact number	xxx

Updated May 2008