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Recycle on the Go
Success Story
The Bottom Line
Program Overview
The City o Pittsburgh has made recycling at special events a key component o its overallrecycling program, using a combination carrot-and-stick approach to ensure success.Back in 1990, the city adopted the state’s guidelines or establishing a municipal recyclingprogram and passed a local ordinance that requires separation o white ofce paper,corrugated cardboard, plastic containers, and aluminum cans rom the trash generatedduring community activities. These materials are to be stored until they are collected orrecycling. The city can assess fnes up to $1,000 plus court costs or an initial violationand up to $5,000 plus court costs or each additional violation.
• An ordinance that
includes requirements orrecycling at special eventsis worthwhile because ithelps pull materials outo the waste stream thatwould otherwise end up ina landfll.
• Writing recycling
requirements into eventpermits ensures that eventcoordinators are awarethat recycling is the law.
• A cooperative relationship
with the city’s eventpermit review committeehelps the recyclingofce identiy thecity’s approved eventsand provide recyclingresources to them.
City of Pittsburgh Ordinance for Recyclingin Public Places
The Cit  Pittsbuh kws tht its citizes wt t ecce wheee the e, whethe t he, t wk,  utd but. With the   dubi the ut  eccbes the cit cects i 2007, cit fcis eed upets t pte ecci t speci eets, icudi t Pittsbuh Steees d Uiesit  Pittsbuh tbes. I dditi t wki cse with eet pes d ius spts iztis, the cit cedits ceutis d uideies  hepi t ke ecci t speci eets  success.
These collapsible recycling bins areon loan from the City of Pittsburghto capture beverage containers in afestival vending area.
U.S. EnvIronmEnTal ProTECTIon agEnCy
 
Recycle on the Go
 
Facts at a Glance
• Pennsylvania’s
Municipal
Waste Planning,Recycling, and WasteReduction Ac
t
1
(Act 101)
requires municipalitiesto establish a recyclingprogram that includesan ordinance or personsto separate white ofcepaper, aluminum,corrugated cardboard, lea waste, and other materialsdeemed appropriate atcommunity activities.
• Pittsburgh’s
City Code619.05
2
requires persons toseparate white ofce paper,corrugated cardboard,plastic containers, andaluminum rom municipalwaste at community
activities. (See section (c)
commercial, institutional,and municipalestablishments and
community activities.)• Pittsburgh’s
SpecialEvents RecyclingGuidelines
3
reiterate therecycling requirementsand oer to providerecycling containersand a small trailer ormajor events as well ascollection o the materialsater the event is over.Second, city ofcials developed guidelines or special events that are expected to drawmore than 200 individuals per day. The guidelines reerence the local ordinance and itsrequirements but also oer recycling assistance, such as providing recycling containersand small trailers or major events. The city has about 100 containers available or loan,and when not in use, stores them in a small warehouse next to the recycling ofce.In addition, the city oers to make arrangements or collecting the materials ater theevent, but event organizers are responsible or providing volunteers or sta or propermaintenance and supervision o the containers during the event. Event organizers mustollow the procedures outlined in the city’s guidelines or proper handling o collectedrecyclables. Depending on the size o the event, the city may use two 9-cubic-yard trailersand/or rear-loading dumpsters available in a ew sizes. Sometimes the trailers will need tobe emptied multiple times during an event that runs or several days.
The City of Pittsburgh loansthis small trailer to eventorganizers to help them recycleduring their programs.
“”
Having an ordinance is a necessary toolto help pull materials out o the waste stream.
We work with event planners and strive to
ensure that our citizens have a recyclingoption at all community events.
Shawn Wigle,City of Pittsburgh’s Acting Recycling Coordinator
2
U.S. EnvIronmEnTal ProTECTIon agEnCy
 
Recycle on the Go
The Bottom Line
• Offering assistance,
including bins, helps buildrelationships between therecycling ofce and eventcoordinators, reinorcingthe recycling message.
 
Outreach and Education
With a rm regulatory foundation in place, the city uses several avenues to spread the
word about the recycling requirements or special events. First, city ofcials posted thecity code on their
Web sit
e
4
. Second, they required event planners to have a solid wasteplan that includes recycling as a condition or receiving an event permit. Finally, thereview committee or an event permit now includes a representative rom the Pittsburgh
Public Works Department who can further explain the recycling requirements to the
event coordinator as necessary.
An event’s solid waste plan is subject to approval by the city’s special events committee.“By the end of the permit process,” says Shawn Wigle, acting recycling coordinator for
the City o Pittsburgh, “the event coordinatorsshould be well aware that they have to
recycle.” Once the city issues the permit,
the event coordinator typically contacts therecycling ofce or assistance.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenge:
Each year, several hundred eventsmay be going on, making itdifcult or the city’s three-personsta to keep track o the eventsand provide resources or them.
Solution:
The city’s permitting ofce sendscopies o permit applications anda list o approved events to therecycling ofce. The recycling ofce usually ocuses its resources on thelargest events and those that it has worked with beore. The recycling ofceusually supports around 100 events per year.
Challenge:
Limited sta makes it difcult to enorce the recycling requirements.
Solution:
The city makes promoting recycling and building relationships the ocuso its special events recycling program. By working directly withevent coordinators by phone, e-mail, and attendance at the eventsthemselves, city ofcials report that many event coordinators nowautomatically e-mail or call the recycling ofce to ask or help.
Challenge:
Offering recycling bins that work can be a challenge.
Solution:
The city experimented with a variety o bins, including large totesand trailers. Currently the city is using ClearStream
®
bins withclear plastic bags. The city reports that these bins work well in mostsituations because they are easy to store and transport, come with asee-through recycling bag, and have lids with restricted openings.
Recycling and waste bins wereplaced side by side at the 2006Major League Baseball All-Star Game to make it easy forattendees to recycle. EPA’s
Recycle on the Go
assisted withrecycling at this event.
3
Recycle on the Go
 
U.S. EnvIronmEnTal ProTECTIon agEnCy
Close-up of half-fullrecycling bins at an event.
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