Entertainment and Sports Venue Waste Management

• Waste removal from venues
• What waste types do venues create?
• Bins for entertainment and sports venues
• How to manage waste in a venue

Entertainment, sports, and other venues produce a wide range of waste materials when preparing for, hosting, and clearing up after events. Types and volumes of waste generated vary depending on the kind of venue, event, and size. There are some common waste types that almost every venue in the UK creates:

• Food waste – leftover food items from attendees, expired ingredients in the kitchen, and even just snacks and food scraps can add up at venues hosting thousands of people.
• Liquid waste – drinks waste from attendees (such as beer, coffee, and leftover soft drinks), wastewater from cleaning, and unused liquids from any kitchen create liquid waste.
• Sanitary waste – the toilets and any changing rooms, bathrooms, and washroom facilities must legally have adequate sanitary waste bins in place to store everything from nappy waste to feminine hygiene waste.
• General waste – recycling is vital, but every venue will have general waste to deal with such as food scraps, non-recyclable packaging, and more.
• Glass recycling – wine, beer, and other drinks bottles make up most glass waste from venues, as well as condiment and ingredient jars from areas serving food and any commercial kitchens.
• Hazardous waste – cleaning products used across the venue should be disposed of with hazardous waste.
• Packaging waste – a wide range of packaging waste will likely be produced by the venue and attendees, such as food packaging in the kitchens and bars and boxes and pallets from deliveries.

All waste generated in a venue is commercial waste. Therefore it must be removed by licensed waste carriers and disposed of in line with the relevant regulations. If you run a venue you’ll need to arrange waste collection regularly to keep your premises clean and safe.

Start with a waste audit of your venue. Review your current waste management practices and identify any challenging areas (such as overflowing bins or half-full bins being removed). Consider all waste materials produced daily and on event days to spot opportunities to recycle as much rubbish as possible.

Reducing waste should be an aim for every type and size of venue in the UK. This helps cut costs to run the venue and improves your green credentials, which is important to attract everything from bands to play your concert hall to couples getting married at your site.

These are a few simple ways to reduce the waste your venue creates:

• Use effective bins – having an effective number, sizes, and range of bins to separate recycling at the source should reduce how much rubbish gets put in your general waste containers and potentially sent for incineration or landfill.
• Partner with sustainable suppliers – seek suppliers who use minimal or recycled and recyclable packaging for your food, equipment, and other goods needed to run your venue.
• Train staff – educate staff about the importance of recycling for the environment and the financial side of your venue. Put a recycling policy in place and have clear signs around your venue.
• Donate items – review what’s thrown out of your venue after an event or regularly and see if there are any items you could donate to a local charity or community cause.
• Go digital – ditch paper receipts, menus, and leaflets that are mostly binned. Replace with email receipts, QR codes, or even tablets in places where required. Digital screens rather than physical posters also save paper and are easier to update.

At Business Waste we’re a national waste broker that can collect rubbish from venues anywhere in the UK. Our extensive network means we can find an affordable and efficient option to remove waste from any type and size of venue wherever you’re based – from a cinema in a coastal town to a city centre theatre.

All waste is kept away from landfill and recycled, recovered, and reused where possible. We realise that running a venue can be challenging with seasonal fluctuations and calendar changes that mean the waste you produce varies. That’s why we work to provide flexible solutions for your business.