City of Davis, CA
Home MenuZero Waste Equipment Rental
Are you hosting an event in Davis?
Due to changes in statewide waste diversion law, many events are required to have recycling and organic waste collection bins placed next to each trash bin that's available to event attendees.
You can rent trash, recycling, and organic waste collection bins for your event.
The City has Clearstream bins available to rent for $1.00 each. These bins include a frame, lid, and sign and are available to rent for events that are held within the City of Davis. Bags for the bins can be purchased separately for $0.30 each.
All materials are available first-come first-served, so please make your reservations at least one week in advance to ensure you have the supplies you need for your event.
Renting waste bins for your event
Step 1: Fill out and submit an Equipment Rental Form at least one week before you event to reserve the bins and bags you need and arrange for a pick-up and return time.
Download a Equipment Rental Form, fill it out, and return it to the City Recycling Program.
- Email: PWWeb@CityofDavis.org
- Mail: City of Davis, Public Works Utilities and Operations Department, Attn.: Jennifer Gilbert, 1717 5th Street, Davis, CA 95616
Equipment rental forms MUST be received AT LEAST 1 week prior to your event. You will receive an email confirmation once your application is received and your rental equipment is reserved. Please make sure that your rental form has an indicated time when you will pick-up and drop-off the rental equipment. These will be your appointment times, and they will be confirmed via email. If you need to change your pick up or drop-off appointment, please respond to the email to request a change.
Please note that due to state and local waste diversion laws, recycling and organic waste collection bins may be required for certain events held in Davis.
Step 2: Pick up and pay for your equipment rental
On the day and time of your appointment to pick-up your rental equipment, arrive at the Public Works Corporation Yard at 1717 5th Street. Our corporation yard is closed to the public, so please wait to the side of the gate and call our main office (530-757-5686) to let them know you have arrived so they can open the gate. When you enter the gate, your rental equipment and parking will be straight ahead in front of the Admin Office, in a designated parking space for rental equipment pick-up. Your equipment will be clearly marked with your rental form. Our staff will come out to your vehicle, accept your payment and give you a receipt. Please note that payment can only be made via a check (made out to City of Davis) or cash. Please bring exact change if you will be paying with cash as we do not have change.
Step 3: Setting up waste collection bins at your event
The Clearstream bins are easy to transport and assemble. The frame folds open, the plastic bag is first pulled through the loops and then up and over the top on the frame. The domed lid snaps quickly onto the frame and the sign attaches via a clip on the frame. See below for tips on successful waste diversion at your event.
Step 4: Manage the waste materials from your event
Be sure to have a plan on how to manage the trash, recycling, and organic waste from your event. Recology Davis can provide you with trash, recycling, and organic waste collection service for your event. Contact Recology Davis at 530-756-4646 to learn more about their services. There are a few State Certified Redemption Centers in and around Davis where you can bring your recyclables to cash in on the CRV. Visit BottlesandCans.com to find the locations and hours.
Step 5: Return your equipment
On the day and time of your appointment to return your rental equipment, arrive at the Public Works Corporation Yard at 1717 5th Street for your appointment to pick-up your rental equipment. Please park to the right of the gate, next to the air pump, so that access to the gate isn’t blocked, and call our office number: 530-757-5686 so that someone can open the gate for you. You can leave your rental equipment in the same location you picked them up from. Zero waste equipment must be returned no later than two days after the event.
More information about renting the waste equipment:
- Requests to rent waste equipment and Rental Forms must be received AT LEAST 1 week prior to your event.
- Waste equipment are available on a first-come first-served basis, so the sooner you reserve the equipment, the better your chances of having waste equipment at your event.
- The waste equipment must be returned clean and without bags or waste.
- The waste equipment may be picked up no earlier than two days before the event and must be returned no later than two days after the event.
For more information about the waste equipment rental program, please contact the Public Works Utilities and Operations Department at 530-757-5686 or pwweb@cityofdavis.org.
Holding a Zero Waste Event?
Are you planning a party or BBQ? Aim for reducing your waste as much as possible by ensuring all reusable, recyclable or compostable items stay out of the trash.
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 reusable serving ware rather than single-use. Several local vendors rent dishes, utensils and other items.
- 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 their name on it to reuse.
- Use finger foods and serve food buffet style.
- Use washable tableware, cups, flatware and linens. Several local vendors rent dishes, utensils and other items.
- If washable reusable items are not feasible, try to use recyclable and compostable tableware, utensils and cups.
Working with Caterers/Concessionaires
If you will be working with a vendor (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 waste diversion efforts in advance of the event, such as with their registration packet.
- Make the diversion of recyclables and organic waste a required part of their contract for the event (they are likely required to do this anyways per state law). Clearly state how waste diversion will be done at the event and what the responsibilities of the vendor are (setting out waste collection bins, sorting waste, etc.).
- Ask vendors to break down their own cardboard and recycle it.
- Provide recycling and organic waste 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.
- If you are not using City or Recology bins, set up clearly marked bins for trash, organics and recycling. Consider using 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, organics, and recycling) are always placed together at your event.
- Place waste bins near where food or drinks are being served.
Recycling and composting your waste after the event
After your event, make sure that your materials are handled appropriately.
- Place all recyclables collected at your event in a Recology Davis recycling cart.
- Place all organic waste in your Recology Davis organics cart.
- Drop-off your recyclables 24/7 at the Recology Davis 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!
- If you want to compost the materials yourself, 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.