On Site Bins
Bins are often the primary method of capture, so this should be something you are already familiar with. Bins should collect a single stream of waste based on its material. For rPET cups, it is possible to include plastic bottle collection in the same bins, as these are made of the same material. When using PLA or paper cups, these should be separated from all other streams (ie, bins for cups only).
Standard bins
240L, 1000L bins are the standard bins used in events and venues due to their stackability, durability, and cost effectiveness. 240L bins are generally used front-of-house, due to their size which makes emptying easier and allows you to create a row of bins for different waste streams. It is also possible to fit standard bins with cup apertures which help to restrict contamination and highlight its function as a cup bin.
Smaller bins (140, 180L) are not as desirable because they fill up very quickly. Large 1000L bins are primarily used back-of-house as a method of storing bagged (or loose) cups, enabling you to store large quantities of cups ready for collection.
3D Printed Bins
Working with The One Project, we can provide 3D printed bins for your event. These are made entirely from waste and customised to your application and style preferences.
3D printed bins are fantastic for drawing attention to collection schemes and increasing participation, however they are a more expensive option when compared to the standard 240L bin.
Stacking/Tube Bins
Bins specially designed to stack towers of cups are a great way of increasing the storage capacity of your collection point. These can be purchased from various companies, however you can also make these yourself with ease and at very low cost using plastic piping.
We recommend making them yourself as you can design them to fit with your other infrastructure, such as making them the right height to fit under your bar.
Alternative Bins
It may be that you already bought or have made some bins for your event. These bins can be used in exactly the same way, however attention should be paid to the messaging as complicated bin designs can distract users from its actual purpose.
Where possible, lids should be included with entry holes to dictate the shape of the desired waste stream, such as cups. Additionally, signage should be placed on the bin itself, and on a banner above to indicate its position from a reasonable distance.
Voting bins are a great way to engage customers and increase recycling. Here, the concept is to incentivise bin use by the simple interaction of asking a question. Many will feel compelled to vote and if they have something to vote with (ie, part of your waste stream, a cup, bottle etc) it is likely they will use the bin.
Generally we would not recommend using alternative types of bin, as more attention has to be paid the logistics of emptying, moving and cleaning. However, if done properly it can result in being equally effective as standard bins, while also having a clear visual improvement once it is decorated in your events style. You should keep them for use at following events to save on costs over time.
Bin Signage
The largest issue with contamination surrounds people’s confusion about how to recycle and what to recycle. Unclear signage on bins, or a lack of signage altogether, is a main driver of the confusion.
The most effective way to minimise this confusion, and thereby reduce contamination, is to incorporate waste and recycling signage on the receptacles at your event. As soon as someone walks up to your bin, appropriately marked signage eliminates the guesswork and ensures people have clearly understand what to recycle, what to compost, and what to send to landfill.
TRP Top Tips for using bins
- Where possible, make it slightly easier to put waste in general waste that recycling bins. This means lazy people will not contaminate recycling.
- Always include each bin type at a bin point. If the recycling bin is further away they will not recycle, and recycling bins without alternatives open up contamination risks.
- Place bins in areas people are likely to have waste to dispose of, such as near the food service areas.
- Scale the bin capacity depending on the location (for example bins by bars should have more capacity for cans, bottles and cups, bins by food zones should have increased general and food capacity.
- Check out our communication lesson where we cover bin signage in much more detail. Use our tips to create a system your customers can really engage with.
