Finnish companies have started a Garbage Gang project that collects and recycles up to 90% of waste generated at public events.

Large summer festivals often create local environmental disasters. The Garbage Gang is a solution to this problem. Their greatest success thus far has been a 500,000-visitor Tall Ships Race held in the summer of 2000 in Helsinki, where 88 percent of 10,000 kilos of trash was recovered for reuse.

The operations of the group are based on well-planned waste management, good signage and clear sorting instructions for disposable dishes. Disposable dishes are biodegradable and suited to paperboard recycling.

Only three types of collection bins are used for clarity: paperboard, bio-waste, and mixed waste. Sorting counsellors advice event attendees in waste recycling.

Mugs, cups and cartons collected at various events are shipped to Stora Enso's Corenso United Ltd subsidiary's Varkaus facility to be used as coreboard raw material. Plates, wooden utensils, food waste and napkins are composted and they will turn into mulch.

Event organisers benefit from rationalised waste management and reduced cleaning costs. The sorting of waste costs about the same or a bit more than the collection of mixed waste.

Members of the " Finnish Garbage Gang "

Huhtamäki Plc >> www.huhtamaki.com
- manufactures disposable dishes

Lassila & Tikanoja Plc >> www.lassila-tikanoja.com
- in charge of event waste management

Paperinkeräys Oy >> www.paperinkerays.fi
- develops collection equipment

Stora Enso Plc >> www.storaenso.com
- supplies paperboard for disposable dishes, makes use of recycled paperboard

Suomen NP-Kierrätys Oy (Valio Ltd, Tetra Pak Ltd, Elopak Ltd, Stora Enso Plc) >> www.valio.fi
- produces liquid packaging materials

Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy >> www.palpa.fi
- collects aluminium cans

City of Helsinki (Public Works Department and Cultural Office) >> www.hel.fi
- organises and participates in the organisation of events

YTV (Helsinki metropolitan area council) >> www.ytv.fi
- develops the capital city's regional waste management, composts bio-waste

Thanks to good signage, clear instructions and sorting counsellors up to 90% of summer festival waste can be reused.