Every year, Cambridge hosts up to 90 outdoor events, ranging from picnics to full blown festivals. At large festivals, Recycling Division staff and community volunteers distribute information.

DPW's policy is that trash and recycling are side by side at festivals. We provide Clear Stream recycling containers for bottle and can recycling. The bottles and cans collected are recycled at the Drop-Off Center.

Volunteering for recycling at festivals is a lot of fun because you get to enjoy the festival, make sure that recycling is happening and talk to people about doing the right thing.

It involves staffing the information table, talking to people, walking around the festival area checking to make sure recycling containers are set up correctly and are side-by-side with trash containers, and minimizing the amount of bottles in the trash and trash in the recycling.

If you would like to volunteer at one of the festival, get in touch with us!   We are looking for help at:

• May 4: Mayfair
  noon-6pm, Harvard Square
  
  
• May 10: Fresh Pond Day
  11am-3pm, Fresh Pond by the Water Department
  
  
• May 17: Home & Energy Fair
  10-2pm, Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School
  
  
• June 14: Riverfest
  noon-6pm, Charles River
  
  
• August 24: Cambridge Carnival (Caribbean Festival)
  noon-6pm, Kendall Square
  
  
• Danehy Park Day: Saturday in Sept/Oct
  11am-4pm, Danehy Park
  
  
• October 12: Oktoberfest
  noon-6pm, Harvard Square

Requirements for Festival Coordinators (printer friendly version)

Before the Event

• Notify DPW Special Events Committee of the estimated quantity and type of beverage containers to be served. Glass containers are strongly discouraged for and we anticipate banning them in future years due to safety and waste concerns.
  
  
• Notify your vendors about recycling requirements. At large festivals, cardboard dumpsters may be provided. Vendors must recycle clean cardboard that is not contaminated with food waste.
  
• Events with cardboard dumpsters: flatten and place inside cardboard dumpster.
  
  
• For large events with many vendors, notify your vendors that all cashiers will be required to wear a button that says “Recycle your bottles & cans” to remind customers to do their part. DPW staff will distribute buttons at the beginning of the festival and collect them at the end.
  
  
• Distribute the “Tips for Vendors to Reduce Waste” flyer to your vendors.
  
  
• Educate workforce and your volunteers about recycling requirements.
  
  
• Promote recycling on your event flyer. Sample text: “Help make this an earth friendly event. Recycle.” If possible, include recycling logo, email rmail@cambridgema.gov for it.

At the Event

• Ensure that recycling and trash are side-by-side, especially near food vendors and high traffic areas.
  
  
• Educate festival attendees about recycling by making announcements. If there is a sound system, recycling must be encouraged at least once every hour to attendees. Sample announcement: “Attention festival goers! Please recycle your empty bottles and cans. Thank you for doing your part to reduce waste and recycle more in Cambridge!”

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Vendor Requirements and Tips (printer-friendly version)

Remind customers to recycle their bottles and cans.
The City will provide enough recycling containers so that at every location, trash and recycling are side by side. At large events, cashiers must wear buttons that say “Recycle Your Bottles & Cans” provided by City staff. Vendors selling bottles and cans must also post the flyer reminding customers to recycle.

Events with cardboard dumpsters.
Large events will be provided with a special dumpster for clean cardboard. Cardboard must be recycled and cannot be contaminated with food waste. Flatten and place inside cardboard dumpster.

Do not sell beverages in glass containers.
Use of glass containers is strongly discouraged and the City anticipates banning them in future years due to safety and waste concerns.

Packaging Waste

• Sell food & drinks in recyclable containers. Look for the recycle symbol on the container. Recycling receptacles will be provided for can and bottle recycling.
  
  
• Offer refills. Allow customers to reuse cups. To avoid health risks, use beverage dispensers that do not touch the lip of the cup. Offer a discount for refills.
  
  
• Loan out pitchers. Rent or buy pitchers and charge a deposit. When they are returned, refund the deposit.
  
  
• Minimize disposable items. Use refillable condiment dispensers instead of small packets. Do not offer straws or lids. Store napkins behind the counter and offer a few per customer.
  
  
• Buy in bulk. This avoids wasteful individually wrapped items and saves you money.

Food Waste

• Offer several portion sizes. Customers can order the amount that they are able to eat. This prevents food waste.
  
  
• Store ingredients or prepared items in a manner that will allow extras to be kept for future use. Use perishable items before they expire.
  
  
• Save food waste for composting.
  
  
• Keep records and use data from this year’s event to estimate how much food to bring next year.
  
  
• Don’t trash those leftovers! Prevent food waste by donating any leftover food you may have. Call these organizations in the Boston area that accept food donations:
         The First Parish, 617-876-7772, www.firstparishcambridge.org
         Bread and Jams, 617-497-9200, www.breadandjams.org
         Food Not Bombs, 617-522-8277, www.foodnotbombs.net
         Rosie’s Place, 617-442-9322, www.rosies.org
         The Women’s Lunch Place, 617-267-1722, www.womenslunchplace.org
  
  
• Buy green products. Use products with “post-consumer recycled content”. These products support the recycling industry and make recycling possible.
  
  
• Use reusable items such as cloth towels or sponges to clean up behind the counter. Share rarely used items with neighboring vendors.
  
  
• Buy non-toxic cleaners and biodegradable cleaners, which are best for the environment. Buying them in concentrate reduces packaging waste.
  
  
• Sell organic foods. They are in high demand and reduce health and environmental problems from pesticides.
  
  Be creative about reducing waste. Implement your own ideas and be an example to fellow vendors!
  

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