City of Davis

Holding a Zero Waste Event

Are you planning a party or BBQ? Aim for reducing your waste as much as possible by planning to use all reusable, recyclable or compostable items!

Planning your event

• Designate a recycling coordinator or committee. Planning for waste reduction and recycling should start at the beginning of your event planning. It’s important to have at least one person responsible for coordinating recycling efforts.
• Reduce waste by sending online invitations.
• Use RSVPs to get a head count to avoid food waste.
• Choose food and supplies for your party that come in bulk with minimal and recyclable packaging.
• Instead of decorating with single-use streamers, balloons, and plastic party favors, decorate with re-usable décor or use potted plants and bowls of fresh fruit.

Food at Your Event

• Give each guest a cup with his or her name on it to reuse.
• Use finger foods and serve food buffet style.
• Use washable tableware, cups, flatware and linens.
• If washable reusable items are not feasible, try to use recyclable and compostable tableware, utensils and cups.
  • Recyclable serving ware includes:
    • Plastic plates
    • Plastic cups
    • Plastic utensils
    • Aluminum foil (without food stuck to it)
  • Compostable serving ware includes:
    • paper plates
    • paper cups
    • paper napkins
    • compostable “bio-plastic” cups and utensils (made from vegetable starch)
  • Avoid using these items—these are neither recyclable, nor compostable:
    • Expanded Polystyrene (aka “StyrofoamTM”) items
    • Individual packages of condiments (sugar, ketchup, cream, mustard, etc.). Please use a larger container or refillable pump condiment dispenser instead.
    • Juice boxes and other drink cartons

Working with Caterers/Concessionaires

If you will be working with a vender (caterer or concessionaire) for your event, it’s important to clearly communicate your requests for reducing waste.

• Start communicating early so that caterers/concessionaires have time to plan accordingly to meet your waste reduction strategy and plans. Provide all vendors with an information sheet about your recycling and composting efforts in advance of the event, such as with their registration packet.
• Make recycling (and composting, if appropriate and possible) a required part of their contract for the event. Clearly state how recycling will be done at the event and what the responsibilities of the vendor are (setting out recycling bins, sorting waste, etc.).
• Ask vendors to break down their own cardboard and recycle it.
• Provide recycling collection containers for vendors use if they do not have their own.
• Require that all vendors make the event as waste-free as possible.

Diverting waste at your event

• If you are using reusable serving ware, be sure to have a clearly marked location for retuning used serving ware.
• Set up clearly marked bins for trash, compost and recycling.
  • Clearly mark bins with large, reusable signs.
  • Attach items used at the event to each sign so that guests can easily tell what goes into which bin.
  • Make sure that all three bins (trash, compost and recycling) are always placed together at your event.
    • Never have a trash bin standing alone—it will fill with recyclables
    • Never leave a compost or recycling bin standing alone—it will fill with trash.
• Do you need recycling containers for your event? The City Recycling Program has Clearstream Recycling containers that are available to rent for events in Davis.
• Place trash cans and recycling containers near where food or drinks are being served.

Recycling your waste after the event

After collecting all your recyclables, you will need to make sure that they are recycled! There are several way to

• Place all recyclables collected at your event in a Davis Waste Removal recycling cart.
• Drop-off your recyclables 24/7 at Davis Waste Removals recycling center at 2727 2nd Street.
• Sort out any CRV bottles and cans and bring them to a certified redemption center to turn them into cash!

Composting your waste after the event

There is no place in Davis where you can take your food and paper waste to be turned into compost. If you collect paper plates, napkins, food scraps and other compostables from your event, you’ll need to have a plan in place to compost them yourself. These materials may NOT be placed in yard material piles on the street. Paper plates, napkins and compostable cups may be composted in a backyard composting pile or in a homemade food digester. Food scraps can be most easily composted via in-ground composting, worm composting or with a homemade food digester. More information about backyard composting and food scrap composting.