Recycling On the Go: Food Vendors
St. Louis Earth Day’s Recycling On the Go is the region’s first
Large-Scale Event Recycling Program!
This event has made a commitment to reducing waste
through recycling and composting.
Our goal is to reduce the most possible amount of waste going to landfills by recycling and composting.
Please help us to achieve the highest goal by following these guidelines:
BEFORE THE EVENT: How to prepare
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Anything with food served on it should be a certified COMPOSTABLE product.
Anything used for a beverage should be a RECYCLABLE product. (Choose #1 PETE, #2HDPE, #5PP)
AVOID #6 plastic containers and all foam products (“Styrofoam” or expanded polystyrene).1
Advertise how you are helping the event’s eco-friendly effort! Post a sign at your booth.
You are directly impacting the economic vitality of the region when you help us put 30- 90% of the
resources from the event’s waste back into our local economy through recycling and composting.
Thank you for your efforts in event environmental sustainability!
WHAT TO BUY: Food Service Product Guide
RECYCLING
For beverages, request #1 or #2 plastic. NO Styrofoam & avoid #6 plastic and
paper cups. All paper cups and most paper plates are not recyclable.
Plastic: All oil-based plastic cartons and containers are accepted.
Look for one of these symbols (right), which indicates the type of plastic. #7 PLA
plant-based
plastics
are
compostable
but
not
recyclable!
Oil-based plastic #1-7 (recycle it) Corn-based #7 PLA plastic (compost it)
COMPOSTING Keep Oil out of our Soil!
Look for this Logo and seal of approval. Don’t be greenwashed!
Utensils: avoid the extra waste and serve finger food, or buy
compostable versions.
For serving food, avoid plastic plates. Certified compostable paper options are best. Examples: Chinet®
plain paper plates or red-checkered paper trays and plain napkins. No lining, no wax and the less ink the
better for plant growth. AVOID single serving condiment packets when possible (use bulk).
Compost collection needs to be 100% free of plastic contaminates. Please keep oil out of our soil!
WHERE TO BUY LOCALLY: *Tell them you’re working with St. Louis Earth Day.*
Garrett Paper, Inc.
314.241.3060
Joe Garrett, Jr.
[email protected]
Industrial Soap Co.
314-322-4075
Amanda Noss
[email protected],
Royal Paper Company
314.664.3900
Mark Licata
[email protected]
1
These materials are very harmful to humans, animals and the environment.
Page 1 of 3
4125 Humphrey Street, St. Louis MO 63116
314.282.7533 | www.stlouisearthday.org
© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2015
Recycling On the Go: Food Vendors
Cartons and Containers are accepted in recycling. There is a difference in what can be accepted
without harming the recycling system and what can actually be recycled (example: paper cups). These
are the best practices for event recycling.
Recycle at Events
Tin and Aluminum Cans & Clean
Foil
Plastic containers #1 - #7 (Other)
(beverage cups & containers)
Keep all caps/ lids on containers
Cartons (Juice, Milk, Broth)
Compost at Events
Landfill at Events
All Foods - except greases and oils
Dirty/food-soiled Aluminum Foil & Pans
ASTM D6400 Compostable Plastic
Containers - #7 PLA, #0 PLA
Plastic packaging, coffee cup lids, utensils.
Flat/thin plastics.
Food-soiled Certified Compostable
Paper plates/cups/bowls
Wooden Stirrers & Chopsticks
Toothpicks (no tinsel)
Styrofoam (hot/cold foam cups,
clamshells)
Zip ties and Disposable gloves
Cardboard & Paperboard
collapsed (Pizza boxes – OK)
ASTM D6400 Compostable Forks,
Knives, Spoons - #7 PLA, #0 PLA
Foil-, Wax-, or Foam- lined products
Paper (clean, not waxy)
No Paper Cups
Paper Napkins, Towels (white &
brown)- no tissues or toilet paper
Paper Cups
Glass bottles (wine bottles to be
in original boxes to transport)
Paper Cups, Bowls, Plates must
meet ASTM D6400, D6868
Certified ASTM-D6400
(Compostable Plastics)
USCC BPI World Seal and Certified
ASTM D6868 (Biodegradable
plastics used as coatings on paper)
Wine Corks (bag separately)
Plastic Bags (bag separately)
Gum, Snack, Condiment Packets and
Candy Wrappers
Diapers, Cigarettes & Packs, Straws, Plastic
Utensils, Bathroom waste (tissue)
Food soiled Plastic Wrap/Bags, Film
AT THE EVENT: What to expect.
How recycling & compost collection might look at the event.
Below: Placed throughout event grounds, a staff or volunteer may
be assigned to each waste station to help event-attendees, or
they may serve as a self-service station with periodic monitoring.
Above: Waste Station tables with volunteers or staff to help
event-attendees sort their waste as recycling, compost or
landfill. These tables may be under tents or not.
Page 2 of 3
4125 Humphrey Street, St. Louis MO 63116
314.282.7533 | www.stlouisearthday.org
© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2015
Recycling On the Go: Food Vendors
AT THE EVENT: How to do your part.
RECYCLE the items listed above in blue bins like this that you will see
throughout the grounds.
Collapse and stack cardboard behind your booth for our staff & volunteers to
pick up. Please separate plastic from cardboard.
Clean plastic bags, like ice bags, can be recycled if kept separate from other
recyclable waste. Stuff them in an empty box for easy collection to be taken to a
grocery store for proper recycling.
COMPOST will be collected in bins like this,
and at our Waste Stations.
Food waste & organics can also go in
yellow totes like this placed behind food
vendor tents.
THROW AWAY all items that cannot be recycled or composted (see
chart) – this includes cigarettes, diapers, gum, and granola bar
wrappers, food service disposable gloves.
Every black bag is assumed to be trash and will not be recycled.
COOKING OIL may be collected at certain events in well-marked containers. PLEASE keep a look out for
these and know the difference from trash containers. They are typically found behind vendors and SLED
staff will alert food vendors on site.
Page 3 of 3
4125 Humphrey Street, St. Louis MO 63116
314.282.7533 | www.stlouisearthday.org
© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2015