You want to
reduce waste at your event
and need some help

CONSULTING
CONTAINERS
STAFFING

Zero Waste Events

We offer zero-waste event consulting, compost education, as well as event staffing. Our Zero Waste Consultants can help you manage the waste stream at events of any size. These can be as small as block parties and family reunions or as large as music festivals that involve food vendors. 

We’ll help you determine which reusables or compostables are right for your event.

Contact us to inquire about making your next event zero waste.

How it works

  • to reduce landfill waste and combat climate change at your event.

  • through our Zero Waste Event form to be connected with a Zero Waste Consultant who will customize our service to your event’s unique needs.

  • timely drop-off and pick-up of the number and size of composting containers that best meet the needs of your event.

  • you and any volunteers or staff on what to compost and how to manage the waste stream at a Zero Waste Event.

  • your event to ensure that all compostable and recyclable items are sorted correctly and to educate your guests about composting.

Pricing Guidelines

Containers Only,
No Staffing

32-gallon totes:

  • $26.00 per tote 

  • $52.00 minimum

5-gallon buckets:

  • $10.50 for the first bucket, $5.50 per additional bucket

  • $25.00 minimum

With Staffing

Staff your event: $30.00/hour per person

32-gallon totes: $26.00 per tote

5-gallon buckets: $10.50 for the first bucket, $5.50 per additional bucket

Setup fee: $25.00 minimum, includes 30 minutes of planning time.  Time after that is $50.00/hour.

Additional Fees

Off-route pick-up and drop-off cost: $10.00 minimum for 10 miles or less off-route.  More than 10 miles is $1.00/mile.

Lost bucket/tote fee: $10.00 per bucket / $50.00 per tote

zero waste specialist at your event

What types of events can be Zero Waste?

  • Evanston Environmental Association's Green Ball, Chicago Market — A Community Co-Op, The Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition's Green Pumpkin Gala, Evanston Rebuild Warehouse's Wrecking Ball

  • NeoCon at Merchandise Mart

  • At the following venues-Greenhouse Loft, Loft on Lake, Chicago Urban Arts Society, North Shore Congregation Israel, Bridgeport Arts Center, Unitarian Church of Evanston, Unity in Chicago

  • Evanston Green Living Festival, Go Green Wilmette’s Going Green Matters, Green Metropolis, Andersonville’s Dinner and Dessert Crawls

  • Girls on the Run, Venus de Miles, Evanston Flying Turkey, Climate Cycle, Cookie Classic 5K

  • Mussar Institute, Center for Jewish Mindfulness

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Beth Emet, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Aitz Hayim, Am Yisrael Congregation

  • Mishkan, JRC, Unitarian Church of Evanston

  • Dewey Elementary School, Nichols Middle School, King Arts, Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, Orrington Elementary School, Hubbard Woods Elementary, Baker Demonstration School

  • North Shore Green Women, Faith in Place

Frequently Asked Questions

  • All food scraps and certified compostable products can be put in your container. See our What to Compost page for guidance.

  • If we staff your event, we will help you manage the waste stream to ensure that all waste ends up in the proper place, but we haul only the compost from the event. You will need to use separate services to haul the garbage or recycling.

  • You will only be charged for the number of composting containers that are used at the event, not for empty containers. For events that have no staffing and only order containers, the minimum fee includes up to two totes or up to three buckets.

  • We will send you an invoice for our services after your event has concluded. This is to ensure that you are only being charged for the amount of containers and staffing hours that are actually used at your event.