Events and Festivals
Public events and festivals often create a huge amount of waste. Whether it’s a sports game, music festival or community event, when people come together waste tends to be left behind – these materials can be a valuable resource when recycled. In response to public concern, a growing number of events are stepping up their greening efforts.
Every event has special features and unique challenges and its own way of handling them. When it comes to waste reduction and recycling, festivals, events and fairs share some circumstances that are important to consider in plans for waste reduction and recycling.
Encouraging recycling activity at events not only preserves natural resources and saves on landfill charges but also can improve your audience’s perception of the event. Recycling in the right way should promote a positive environmental image and present event organizers as responsible and respectful venue users.
Urban Impact: Helping Events and Festivals Work Towards Achieving Zero Waste
At Urban Impact, we help events and festivals work towards achieving Zero Waste. We work in partnership with festivals, special events and fairs to implement comprehensive recycling and waste reduction programs throughout the Metro Vancouver. We understand that special event organizers are busy with the task of organizing and managing their event, without adding recycling collection into the mix of responsibilities. That's why we're here to help! Our recycling experts can help you get people recycling and minimizing waste!
We set up Zero Waste stations to help your event or festival move towards achieving Zero Waste by recycling bottle, paper, cans and conpost. Eliminating a waste material means you don’t have to collect or recycle it. At Urban Impact, we believe it is never too early to start the planning process for preventing and recycling waste for your event. Of course each special event is different and we would like to meet with you to discuss your recycling needs. Our goal is to ensure maximum capture rates of recyclables and minimum contamination levels.
Think about Waste Prevention
Waste prevention involves thinking about what actions will generate the least amount of waste. Beginning with pre-event planning, to day-of-event tips, and post-event evaluation, Urban Impact can help you can take your event beyond just recycling to hosting an environmentally friendly and sustainable event. We will place Recycling Stations strategically throughout your venue. Your event will receive a certificate of Diversion that outlines how much waste was diverted from the landfill.
For help and advice in setting up Events Recycling facilities please contact Urban Impact. Your community event may be eligible for partially donated services. Please provide us with the date(s), location details and size of your event. Our festival/event services can include all paper products, glass/metals/plastics and cardboard.
At Urban Impact, we believe that for events and festivals, advance planning is key in making waste reduction efforts successful. For event organizers, taking steps to limit waste in the first place goes a long way in reducing litter, cost and the negative impacts that waste has on the environment. Find out how Urban Impact helped the City of Richmond’s Winterfest festival divert most of the waste generated at the event from the landfill. (Click here for Case Study)
On April 23, Urban Impact’s Festivals and Events team was on hand at the Capers Whole Foods Robson Street store’s Earth Day Celebration. We provided free recycling services to help the store’s festival in the heart of Robson Street divert compost waste from the landfill.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society, I wish to thank you for your sponsorship of the Rio Tinto Dragon Boat Festival. Without organizations like Urban Impact, the dragon boat festival would not enjoy the success it does today. We really appreciate everything you do.
Ann Phelps, General Manager, Canadian International
Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Festival Silver Sponsor
Thank you Paddle
On Saturday, July 9, the Urban Impact Events and Festivals team was out in full force to help the Tour De Delta's Brenco Criterium race go green. The Tour De Delta's fast and furious Brenco Criterium took place in the historic fishing village of Ladner. This year's Criterium was very exciting to all who attended- the cyclists manipulate the tight corners of the downtown core. The weekend brought more than 5000 spectators out to celebrate cycling excellence in Delta. We had the opportunity to watch the competitors complete lap after lap at breakneck speeds while they raced for cash prizes and valuable series points.
Urban Impact's Zero Waste Stations were placed strategically around the race course to help spectators reduce waste going to the landfill. Visitors to Urban Impact's tent had the opportunity to win prizes by shooting a ball into a basket or colouring our recycling trucks.
In the men's race, Australian racer Tommy Nankervis made a surprise break from the pack midway through the 60th and final lap to win the Brenco Criterium. Karlee Gendron captured the women's title in the inaugural MK Delta Lands Criterium in North Delta Friday. She then recovered from a nasty crash to rally and win the Brenco Criterium.