Supporting Waste Management At The Lexus Ilkley Open

Managing waste at a major sporting event presents very different challenges to servicing a permanent commercial site.

Waste volumes can change rapidly throughout the day as spectators arrive, hospitality areas fill up, and catering outlets operate at full capacity. Collections must fit around live event operations while keeping public areas clean, safe, and accessible.

The tournament generated a range of waste streams, including:

• General waste
• Compostable food and drink packaging
• Paper and cardboard
• Plastic and cans

The organisers wanted a waste management partner that could provide reliable collections, maximise recycling opportunities, and support wider sustainability initiatives throughout the event.

We worked with the tournament organisers to develop a waste management plan that reflected how the site operated throughout the event.

Dedicated waste streams were introduced across the venue, making it easier to separate materials before collection. Collections were scheduled around peak visitor periods to minimise disruption to spectators, hospitality teams, exhibitors, and event staff.

Alongside managing collections, we worked with Vegware to support a dedicated compostable waste stream across the tournament. All foodservice packaging used by vendors, including cups, food containers and cutlery, was supplied as certified compostable products. This allowed these streams to be collected alongside food waste for composting.

Dedicated signage, product imagery and clean bin messaging helped visitors identify the correct waste stream. Event staff were given guidance to help manage contamination and encourage correct disposal throughout.

Throughout the tournament, our team monitored waste volumes and collection requirements to ensure services continued to meet demand as attendance levels changed.

Across the 2026 Lexus Ilkley Open, Business Waste collected 33.5 tonnes of waste.

This included:

Together, the mixed recycling and compostable packaging streams accounted for 13.24 tonnes of material, representing approximately 39% of all waste collected during the tournament.

These figures highlight the value of providing dedicated recycling streams alongside general waste collections, helping to divert more material from disposal while supporting more sustainable event operations.

Working alongside Vegware, the Lexus Ilkley Open committed to using 100% certified compostable foodservice packaging across the event. This included drinks cups, food containers, cutlery and even the liners used inside the dedicated compostable waste bins.

Conventional foodservice packaging is often difficult to recycle once contaminated with food. Vegware’s compostable packaging can be collected alongside food waste and processed together. This simplifies waste segregation for visitors while helping divert more material away from general waste.

To support the system, signage featuring the exact products used throughout the event was installed throughout the venue, guiding spectators to dispose of items correctly. Event staff also received training on the composting system, helping minimise contamination and ensuring the dedicated waste stream operated efficiently.

Our partnership with the Lexus Ilkley Open delivered a structured waste management solution that supported the smooth running of the tournament from start to finish.

Key outcomes included:

• 33.5 tonnes of waste collected across the event
• Separate collection streams for general waste, mixed recycling, and compostable foodservice packaging
• Approximately 39% of collected material diverted through mixed recycling and dedicated compostable packaging collections
• Reliable scheduled collections throughout the tournament
• Clean public, hospitality, and operational areas
• Greater visitor engagement through sustainability-focused activities

Large sporting events require more than regular waste collections. They need a waste management strategy that supports visitors, vendors, hospitality teams and organisers throughout every stage of the event.

Our continued partnership with the Lexus Ilkley Open demonstrates how a structured approach to collections, recycling and reuse can help major events operate efficiently while encouraging better resource management. By combining practical waste services with ongoing operational support, Business Waste helped deliver a cleaner, well-managed tournament for everyone involved.