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In one night, a well-attended basketball game, fair or concert can generate thousands of pounds of plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other recyclable materials. Even now, most of that ends up in landfills.

For example, only 25 percent of PET plastic bottles were recycled in 2007, according to the National Association for PET Container Resources.

But state laws and pressure from a more environmentally aware public could change that. Many sports and entertainment venues, including the Greensboro Swim Meet and the coliseum, have recently added or expanded recycling efforts. And lawmakers have prohibited plastic bottles from North Carolina landfills, starting in October.

“We really need to be recycling more plastic and I think special events are one place we can target,” said Rachel Eckert, who works for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

That state department is holding workshops across the state to educate venue owners and events coordinators on how to implement recycling programs. Find below a list of tips and resources provided this week at a Greensboro workshop.

HOW TO START (source: Sandi Childs, director of recycling projects for Coca-Cola Recycling)

1. Identify and include key stakeholders in decision making. These stakeholders would include operations managers, marketing staff, cleaning crews, garbage collectors, vendors and suppliers.

2. Understand collection and disposal costs for both recycling and disposing in the landfill. Aim to recover enough recyclable materials to save money on trash pick-ups.

3. Obtain sales data of beverage containers to predict recycling volumes. This will help you determine how many bins to order and pickup frequency.

4. Track and record recovery numbers.

5. Incorporate recycling into your existing solid waste management system to make the process more efficient and consistent.

6. Use a reliable local market for collecting and selling recyclable materials. You want to make sure the company can handle the materials you send them.

Learn more about how to coordinate a recycling program through the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance or through the National Association for PET Container Resources.

The state also maintains a database of public and private recycling providers. Find providers at here or here. Or, call (800) 763-0136 or (919) 715-6500 for assistance.

FUNDING IDEAS FOR RECYCLING BINS (source: N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance)

1. Partner with a local solid waste office to start a recycling program. This would enable you to receive funding through the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Get contact information for recycling coordinators here and the state grant information here.

2. Ask your recycling hauler to provide you with bins. It can probably get a discount or may know of another organization switching out or upgrading bins.

3. Talk with your local Walmart manager. The company has made donations in the past.

4. Contact your local beverage distributor.

5. Check out the N.C. Office of Environmental Education grant page here.

6. Try grants from. N.C. Beautiful or Coca-Cola.

7. Look for ways to get containers donated. Examples include copy paper boxes from print shops; milk cartons or bread containers from grocery stores;  syrup barrels from your local soft drink manufacturer; buckets from a construction site; and barrels from other manufacturers.

8. Project Learning Tree offers grants to people who have participated in workshops.

9. Find used recycling containers on WasteTrader  or Recycle Guys.

Other resources on planning green events

Bluegreenmeetings.org

Eno River Festival planning guide

Bridging the Gap Green Event Planning Guide