REPORT
Zero Waste resources for special events
Understand recycling, composting, and waste requirements for special events.
You will be required to submit a recycling, composting, and waste reduction plan (known as your Zero Waste Special Event Plan) showing how you will comply with each of the following rules.Zero Waste PlanMandatory Recycling and Composting
- On your zero waste plan, three-stream zero waste stations should be clearly marked. Also note where the Recology receptacles will be located.
- Ensure recyclables, compostables, and landfill-bound trash goes in color coded, labeled bins. To comply with this requirement, you may need to hire an Event Greener. (See 'Event Greeners' below).
- Group recycling, composting, and trash bins together with clear and identifiable signage. Don’t have stand-alone bins.
- Line composting bins with certified compostable bags, not plastic bags.
- Line recycling bins with clear plastic bags or no liners at all. These plastic liners must be emptied and either reused or disposed of in landfill bin. They cannot be discarded in the recycling bin.
SF Environment offers free consultations to reduce refuse costs and provides guidance to implement a successful zero waste event. Contact the Residential Zero Waste team at ResZeroWaste@sfgov.org
Refuse collection
Order and pay for adequate refuse collection service at least 30 days prior to the event. Contact Recology San Francisco at 415-330-1300 or email customerservice@recologysf.com
- Recology offers Cardboard Event Boxes for front-of-house recycling, composting, and trash (landfill) for event waste disposal. Request Recology special event resources
- Signage - Order refuse (recycling, composting, and trash (landfill)) signage to ensure attendees know what goes where.
- Email Recology Customer Service customerservice@recologysf.com with your desired signage type and quantity, or
- Print and create your own signage.
- Order cart and/or dumpsters to handle back-of-house refuse service for compost, recycling, and landfill waste. Debris boxes should have locks to avoid contamination or dumping.
Event Greeners
Events with more than 1,000 attendees with food and beverage vendors must hire an SF Environment registered event greener to ensure adequate collection services, bin monitoring, back of house sorting and post-event cleanup.
Exceptions: Some smaller events do not need an event greener unless a lot of refuse will be generated:
- Any event that will host fewer than 1000 people. These events must still order and pay for adequate refuse service or self-haul all recycling, composting and trash material off-site.
- Small block parties can use existing residential Recology bins with permission of the account holder
Event greener organizations:
Edible Food Recovery
Events with over 2,000 attendees per day that charge an admission price or are operated by a local agency are required to have a food recovery plan.
Before the event:
- Organize recovery/donation of the maximum amount of edible surplus food from all vendors. Read Event Venue Managers Food Recovery Guidelines
- Find a Food recovery organization or service (FRO/S) in advance of the event and provide estimates about the amount of surplus food you expect to have so that the organization can prepare to collect and redistribute it. Learn more about SB 1383 SFEnvironment.org/SB-1383
- Develop a written agreement with FRO/S and send agreement to ENV-ediblefoodrecovery@sfgov.org at least two weeks prior to the event.
During the event:
Track/record the total pounds of food recovered during the event.
After the event:
- Provide donation tracking for the event
- Email total pounds of food recovered at your event to ENV-edibleFoodRecovery@sfgov.org no later than two weeks after the event takes place.
Foodware
In accordance with the Food Service and Packaging Waste Reduction Ordinance the following requirements apply to all events in San Francisco:
- Disposable polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) containers are prohibited
- Plastic stirrers, toothpicks, and beverage plugs are banned. Acceptable alternatives include paper, wood, and other natural fiber.
- Only provide accessories like straws, lids, cutlery, and napkins upon request OR at a self-serve station.
- Use only recyclable or compostable (BPI Certified) to-go containers.
Package-free water
Chapter 24 of San Francisco Municipal Code restricts the sale or distribution on City property of drinking water in plastic bottles of 21 ounces or less.
- Bottled and packaged water (sold in less than 1 liter containers) is prohibited. (Some sporting events are exempt)
- Hydration stations serve as an alternative for bottled and packaged water. Find out how to access water for your event.
Organizations offering hydration stations:
If your event has over 100 attendees, you must ensure that at least 10% of attendees have reusable cups. To comply, event producers can implement the following:
- Provide reusable cups for attendees to use
- Ask attendees to bring their own cups (no glass)
- Sell promotional cups and allow attendees to refill their purchased cups