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:
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, crossing streets, climbing into dumpsters. Please keep
all body parts inside golf carts and on seats (no dangling feet).
 GO TEAM!: We expect everyone 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 ever feel uncomfortable in a situation, please check in with
SLED staff or event security.
 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/refill water thermos, gloves (utility & disposable), first
aid kit, sun block, insect repellent
6. Lunch is provided at the Earth Day Festival but not guaranteed at other festivals.
WHAT’S WHAT?
Plastic Beverage Cups:
When determining whether or not a cup is recyclable, look
on the bottom for one of these symbols (right), which
indicates the type of plastic resin.
Composting:
Tips for identifying compostable items at the event:
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.
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 equal compostable. These items are not recyclable and not compostable. If a
product says “biodegradable” (without the logo), the item must go into the landfill trash.
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© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2012, 2015
Recycling On the Go: Volunteer Instructions
Recycle at Events
Tin and Aluminum Cans & Clean
Foil
Plastic containers #1 - #5,
#7 (Other) (beverage cups &
containers)
Keep all caps/ lids on containers
Cartons (Juice, Milk, Broth)
Compost at Events
All Foods - except greases and oils
and large quantities of meat
ASTM D6400 Compostable Plastic
Containers - #7 PLA, #0 PLA
Food-soiled Certified Compostable
Paper plates/cups/bowls
Wooden Stirrers & Chopsticks
Toothpicks (no tinsel)
Landfill at Events
Dirty/food-soiled Aluminum Foil & Pans
Plastic packaging, # 6 Plastic (colored cups,
hard clear plastic cups, coffee cup lids,
utensils) Flat/thin plastics.
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: 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. Clean plastic bags, like ice bags, can be recycled if kept separate from
other waste. Stuff them in a separate bag for easy collection.
Collapse cardboard and pile up behind vendors.
COMPOST will be collected in bins like this
with compostable bags, and at our Waste
Stations.
Total Organics
Recycling
Food waste & organics can also go in yellow
totes like this.
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© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2012, 2015
Recycling On the Go: Volunteer Instructions
THROW AWAY all items that cannot be recycled or composted (see chart) – this
includes cigarettes, diapers, gum, gloves, 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, 2015