Recycling On the Go: Volunteer Instructions
THANK YOU for sharing your passion with others
And for helping make a positive impact to
Reduce this event’s environmental impact!
HOW TO PREPARE/WHAT TO EXPECT
Expectations:
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Each Event is Different but our passion remains constant. Some events are Recycling Only while others offer
Composting as well. Our focus is on collecting recycling, compost or cooking oil for waste diversion.
Equipment: Normal wear and tear is expected but please do not place undue stress on equipment resulting
in damage. Misuse (such as riding on the wagons) is inappropriate and can result in injury. Do not place
yourself in potentially dangerous situations, such as climbing into dumpsters, crossing streets without
looking, etc.
GO TEAM!: We expect each of our volunteers & employees to respect one another and cooperate to
accomplish ROG goals.
Public: Please keep in mind that you are representing St. Louis Earth Day (and this event). Conduct yourself
in a professional manner by avoiding inappropriate language and responding with a pleasant attitude when
approached with questions or suggestions. If you are approached by a particularly aggressive individual,
please direct them to a SLED staff member or decline to engage them because of the work that you must
focus upon.
Proper Conduct: Show up to your shift with a few minutes to spare and ready to work (and have fun!).
Please do not consume more than one alcoholic beverage an hour during your volunteer shift.
Physical preparedness: The tasks vary but lifting, bending, stooping, walking, twisting are all necessary
What to Bring:
1. Reusable water bottle
2. Closed-toed shoes
3. Hat & protective gear for the forecasted weather (hot/sunny/rainy/cold)
4. Comfortable clothes appropriate to the weather that you’re okay with getting dirty.
5. SLED provides the following: extra water bottles/water thermos, gloves (utility & disposable), first aid
kit, sun block, insect repellent
6. Provided food is not guaranteed – please come prepared with a meal or cash.
WHAT’S WHAT?
Plastic Beverage Cups:
When determining whether or not a cup is recyclable, look
on the bottom for one of these symbols. Remember, #6
plastic is not accepted as a recyclable. Common nonrecyclable #6 plastic cups include colored Solo cups; very
weak, frosted plastic cups; hard, clear cups.
Composting:
items at the event:
Tips for identifying compostable
1. For beverages, look for the plastic symbol #7 that reads
PLA instead of “other”.
2. For forks/knives/spoons, compostable versions are
usually off-white and have a more grainy texture with a matte finish.
3. For paper items look for “ASTM-D6400” or “ASTM-D6868” printed on the bottom.
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© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Recycling On the Go: Volunteer Instructions
a. Some paper items do not have this identification but are still compostable, like
napkins and paper towels.
b. Look for paper products that are not bleached and have little or no ink printing and
little wax coating.
4. “Biodegradable” DOES NOT necessarily equal compostable. These items are not recyclable
and not compostable. If a product says “biodegradable” (not within the compostable logo
pictured right), the item must go into the landfill trash.
Recycle at ROG Events
Tin and Aluminum Cans & Clean
Foil
Compost at ROG Events
All Foods - except greases and oils
and large quantities of meat
Plastics #1 - #5, #7 (Other)
(beverage cups & containers)
ASTM D6400 Compostable Plastic
Containers - #7 PLA, #0 PLA
Keep all caps/ lids on containers
Cartons (Juice, Milk, Broth)
Food-soiled Certified Compostable
Paper plates/cups/bowls
Wooden Stirrers & Chopsticks
Toothpicks (no tinsel)
Landfill at ROG Events
Dirty Aluminum Foil & Pans
# 6 Plastic (Solo colored cups, hard clear
plastic cups, coffee cup lids, utensils)
Styrofoam (hot/cold foam cups)
Mixed Material (e.g. bottle caps, foil-lined
paper, Paper Cups – waxy, plastic-lined)
Cardboard & Paperboard
collapsed
ASTM D6400 Compostable Forks,
Knives, Spoons - #7 PLA, #0 PLA
Foil-, Wax-, or Foam- lined products
Paper (clean, not waxy – No
Cups)
Paper Napkins, Towels (white &
brown)- no tissues or toilet paper
Colored Napkins
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 and Candy Wrappers
Diapers, Cigarettes & Packs, Straws,
Utensils, Bathroom waste (tissue)
Plastic Wrap/Bags, Film
AT THE EVENT: EQUIPMENT
RECYCLING at the event will be collected in bins like this placed throughout
the grounds AND at stations (see below) where you’ll help attendees select
“Landfill”, “Compost”, or “Recycle”.
The clear bags are for recycling only because it is easy to identify any possible
contamination.
Collapse cardboard and pile up behind vendors.
COMPOST will be collected in bins like this with
compostable bags, and at our Waste Stations.
Food waste & organics can also go in yellow totes like
this.
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Recycling On the Go: Volunteer Instructions
THROW AWAY all items that cannot be recycled or composted (see chart) – this
includes cigarettes, diapers, gum, bottle caps and candy and snack wrappers.
Every black bag is assumed to be trash and will not be recycled. Please be sure to monitor
the dumpsters to ensure that there is minimized contamination.
COOKING OIL will be collected in barrels similar to these, but with lids. PLEASE keep a look
out for these and know the difference. They are typically found behind vendors.
AT THE EVENT: VOLUNTEER ROLES
Rovers/Bin Management – Should be comfortable walking a lot, bending over, and working with waste.
Volunteers will be responsible for checking the capacity of each bin’s bag,
picking out non-recyclable items from the recycle bins and changing out bags
when necessary. Check the trash bins for items that can be easily reached and
moved over to a recycle bin (like beverage containers).
Change recycling bins when they are mostly full. If a bag is mostly glass, change
earlier before the bag becomes too heavy to move. Compost gets heavy fast, so
don’t let the bag get too full. Full bags can be left, tied off, next to the bins for
the transport team to move. The bins and cans will be located throughout the
event, and must always be paired with each other. If they get separated, bring
them back together. Consider adjusting the location of the bin pairs to better accommodate traffic flow.
Transporter – Must be able to lift 20-30 lb bags repeatedly. Must drive golf cart responsibly.
These volunteers are responsible for transporting the full bags of waste
to the appropriate dumpster. They also pick up cardboard and other
bulk recyclables from behind vendor booths. These volunteers will also
pick up the full bags from the Waste Stations (if they are present at the
event) and transport them to the dumpster.
Waste Station – Strong communication skills. Knowledgeable about recyclable and compostable materials.
One to two volunteers will be assigned to each waste station to assist in the
sorting process during each shift. These volunteers help attendees sort their
waste immediately into separate bins for compostable materials,
recyclables and trash destined for the landfill.
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© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014