Recycling On the Go: Events SPONSOR & VENDOR INSTRUCTIONS
Dear Supporter,
First and foremost, we would like to thank you for your support – we are so happy to have you as a part
of our event! To help you prepare for our event’s Green Goals this year, we have compiled this document
to provide you with important information on how to help us recycle more and send less waste to the
landfill. With your full participation, we will increase the amount of recyclables at the event and work
with Recycling On the Go to divert these items from trash cans, saving them from a forever fate in area
landfills. In 2013, St. Louis Earth Day’s ROG Program worked with 78 local events to divert 53 tons of
material from area landfills. Waste is a significant contributing factor to the negative impact that events
have on the environment and health. Your participation is vital and greatly appreciated.
Here is how you can help! Thank you.
St. Louis Earth Day
4168 Juniata Street, Suite 4
St. Louis MO 63116
www.stlouisearthday.org
(fax) 314.865.2530
(phone) 314.282.7533
During the Event
St. Louis Earth Day staff and/or event volunteers will pick up bulk recyclable items like cardboard
throughout the event. The following items will be accepted as recyclables at the event:
Recycle at ROG Events
Tin and Aluminum Cans & Clean Foil
Landfill at ROG Events
Dirty Aluminum Foil & Pans
Plastics #1 - #5, #7 (Other)
(beverage cups & containers)
# 6 Plastic (Solo colored cups, hard clear plastic cups,
coffee cup lids, utensils)
Keep all caps/ lids on containers
Styrofoam (hot/cold foam cups)
Cartons (Juice, Milk, Broth)
Mixed Material (e.g. bottle caps, foil-lined paper,
Paper Cups – waxy, plastic-lined)
Cardboard & Paperboard collapsed
Foil-, Wax-, or Foam- lined products
Paper (clean, not waxy – No Cups)
Bathroom Paper Waste, Paper Towels, Tissues,
Napkins, toothpicks (compost if available)
Glass bottles (wine bottles to be in original boxes to
transport)
Gum, Snack and Candy Wrappers
Wine Corks (bag separately)
Diapers, Cigarettes & Packs, Straws, Utensils
Plastic Bags (bag separately)
Food Waste (compost if available)
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© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2012
Recycling On the Go: Events SPONSOR & VENDOR INSTRUCTIONS
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 non-recyclable #6 plastic
cups include colored Solo cups; very weak, frosted plastic cups; hard, clear
cups.
Giveaways: If you have any questions along the way as you are determining
your giveaway approach and selecting items, please contact St. Louis Earth Day!
Giving away promotional items is a popular way for companies to get their brand into the hands of
attendees. However, this practice has a significant environmental impact. Our goal for this year is to be a
low-impact event. Don’t be the company whose name appears on give-a-way items that fill the trash
cans at our event and sends a bad message about your business to attendees!
Questions to consider when selecting giveaways:
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Is a giveaway necessary? Is it an effective way to get our brand out? Are there alternatives to
the giveaway in this case?
What is the item made of? Is it made from post-consumer or pre-consumer recyclable
materials? Is the material organic (like cotton) or recycled (like some polyester products) or
naturally compostable (like fruit or seeds)?
Is this item made in the USA or overseas? Is the item locally made in Missouri or St. Louis?
Can this item be easily recycled or composted once it is no longer needed/wanted?
How long will the recipient want/use this item? Is the Item useful?
Are the items individually wrapped? How will you contain the wrapping? Can you request that
the manufacturer leave out the wrapping? Perhaps you can unwrap prior to the event and
recycle plastic bags at the grocery store to avoid letting them enter the event waste stream.
Here are SUGGESTIONS FOR GIVEAWAYS that are unique, useful, high-quality, desirable and/or support
sustainable living. All of our suggestions can be creatively branded:
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Metro passes
Compact fluorescent, energy efficient light bulbs (CFLs)
T-shirts (organic and/or recycled material only)
Seed packets (organic or heirloom)
Yearling trees (natives with instructions for planting)
Coupons (printed on recycled paper with low dye and soy ink)
Energy efficient/LED night lights
Upcycled/Reused bicycle chain key chain (See Resource Revival)
Bird Feeder
Attractive, locally printed posters/flyers (Fire Cracker Press)
Bottle opener
Recycled paper notebook or memo pad
Reusable mug
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© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2012
Recycling On the Go: Events SPONSOR & VENDOR INSTRUCTIONS
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Reusable shopping bags
o There are MANY different varieties, ranging from small stuffable bags to large durable
bags. While very useful, it is a common giveaway. Make sure yours is durable, functional
and made with eco-friendly material.
o Bags made from old banners that include your logo (see Sew Sack Sew below)
Reusable water bottles
o Metal water bottles are preferred over plastic. If it’s plastic, make sure it is BPA free and
made from # 1, #2, or #5 plastic, which are all recyclable.
o Have a water cooler available so people can fill them up and use them right away
instead of buying bottled water. Maybe include some information about the benefits of
tap water over bottled water.
Pens & Pencils
o Everyone can use writing implements. Look for options that are good quality (won’t run
out of ink quickly) and that are made with recycled plastic or a unique material like
recycled currency.
o Pedro’s Planet has “eco” versions that are biodegradable and recycled.
Examples of ITEMS to AVOID
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Mardi Gras-style beads – (quickly disposable, not eco-friendly)
Mini-frisbees that aren’t functional as Frisbees (anything less than 175 gram size)
T-shirts made from standard cotton or polyester
Plastic goodie bags
Candy – (wrappers contaminate the waste stream)
Energy or granola bars – (wrappers contaminate the waste stream)
Balloons – (quickly become trash or end up in the waterways)
Coozies/drink insulators – (overdone, quickly disposable)
Recommended Vendors for Appropriate Promotional Products
Resource Revival: This US-based company makes promotional products and awards from recycled
bicycle parts. www.resourcerevival.com
Pedro’s Planet: Eco-friendly office supplies, with an extensive catalogue of items that would make great
giveaways. Locally-owned and a St. Louis community leader. www.pedrosplanet.com
Get Green with Geiger: Green line of promotional products and has a reference guide for “earth friendly
products. Local contact: 314.432.4703, www.geiger.com/products-services/eco-friendly-productsafety/
Seed Packets/Garden Supplies: Peaceful Valley, www.groworganic.com or Seed Savers,
www.seedsavers.org
Sew Sack Sew: This company has been a St. Louis Earth Day Festival vendor for several years. They make
“upcycled” bags from old vinyl banners, supplied by local companies and organizations.
www.sewsacksew.com
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© St. Louis Earth Day 2011, 2012