Waste Management
The leading idea in event sanitation could be that a venue or event space must always be cleaned after use to correspond its state before the event. Leaving waste on public areas, like parks and forests, is also prohibited by law, and littering can be subject to a fine. The better the event waste is sorted and recycled, the smaller is the carbon footprint of the waste management.
Collecting combustible waste is a minimum requirement at audience events. Events that only have one garbage bin type are becoming rare. If an event has serving or food sales, bio waste must have a separate garbade bin. It is recommendable for events to organize sorting for cardboard, glass, metal, paper, plastic, hazardous waste, bottles and cans as well.
When registering events of over 500 people, you must include a detailed plan on waste management. All necessary event permits can be found on the City of Oulu e‑Permit system.
Do this
Beginners
Acquire the necessary waste containers and instruct visitors in sorting the correct way.
Clean the venue and its immediate surroundings after the event.
Organize smoking at the venue in such a way that cigarette stubs do not end up in the soil.
Advanced
Place waste containers with sorting instructions on an easy-to-see location and where the audience spend time and use services.
Monitor waste containers’ filling, and ensure that they are emptied regularly.
Obey legislated prohibitions on smoking, and clearly mark areas where smoking is permitted.
Next Level
Require individual waste management plans from catering services and other food vendors.
Hire staff for sorting points: special forces that instruct the audience in sorting in a fun way.
Plan a campaign that rewards for sorting!
A cigarette stub never decomposes. When cigarette stubs, the most common plastic litter in the world, end up in nature, they dissolve into small microplastic particles that transport toxic chemicals into the soil and the waterways. Microplastics and harmful substances accumulate in the food chain, and through fish and crustaceans they eventually end up in humans.
The effects of campaigning and mini ashtrays for cigarette stubbing were tested at Varjo festival.
Responsible cigarette stubbing was also learned at Hässäkkäpäivät.
Two other innovation testings involved effective waste management. Smart waste management was tested at two different-size music festivals, at Qstock in Oulu and at Bättre Folk in Hailuoto.
More Information & Tips
You can follow updates on waste management legislation on the Ministry of the Environment website
Oulu Region Environmental Protection Regulations and Instructions
