Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 1

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1 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 1 Zero Waste Fairgrounds Green Policy Brief Paul Bickert, Melissa Oister, Daritza Villalobos, Megan Warner Arizona State University Introduction

2 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 2 The Arizona State Fair is the largest festival of its type in the state, bringing in more than a million people annually over the course of 18 days. The fair features many attractions ranging from carnival rides to demolition derbys, as well as a very unique assortment of food options. With all that goes into operating such a large event, piling amounts of byproducts are also generated. Last year, a public survey prioritized zero waste as something they wanted to see for the next fair, so Governor Ducey tasked the State Fair to increase its percentage of diverted waste amongst all waste types including cardboard, manure, food waste and plastic. ADEQ has been working with the Fair since the previous event in 2017, where efforts to engage the public and avoid recyclable contamination fell short. Because zero waste goals require a heightened focus toward the reduction of waste by diversion, providing education to State Fair participants is crucial to achieve a lasting strategy for the benefit of the fair vendors, local community and the environment. The Fairgrounds Green team would like to make creative and economically feasible recommendations for the AZ State Fair considering the knowledge of staffing and funding challenges. Since the zero waste idea is a new experiment, we recognize that the experience will be a learning process. Sustainability is an ongoing goal that requires experimentation and applying an environmental, social, and economic perspective. We will consider what solutions can be feasible in the short term versus the long term. Since education has the power to spread ideas and individual change, we see it as a key intervention point that can prevent waste in the first place and make a substantial difference for the environment and the community. Challenges

3 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 3 We found it difficult to find economic cost information through online research of implementing zero waste programs. Each state varies in their successes of zero waste implementation depending on scale and years of experience with zero waste. None of the fairs researched reported the start-up costs with their zero waste diversion programs. Potential savings and the amount of waste diverted were key indicators of success addressed. However, to look further into this aspect of zero waste, we think that the information can most likely be found by directly contacting other state fairs to gain more detailed information about their efforts. Further social costs of this effort include the educational efforts to inform the public, training vendors and staff, and infrastructure to manage the waste. Educating the public can be expensive and time-intensive depending on how elaborate the venture will be. Printed materials can become expensive to distribute. Media campaigns including radio and television commercials can also be expensive, but have the potential to reach a wider audience. Signage to make the public aware of zero waste can quickly add up. Hiring a marketing specialist is another option that can add to the budget. Training the vendors and staff is another expenditure. The type of training that will be needed can be costly depending on the route taken. More expensive training includes hiring consultants or specialists. These professionals will need to be compensated properly and will add to the overall cost of the event. The infrastructural challenges are mainly with the recycle bins. The amount needed and the cost per bin are the main focus. According to the Delaware State Fair Initiative report, DNREC ultimately purchased 100 bins at a cost of $7,600. Factoring in the cost of the stickers, the bins worked out to be about $84 each (archive.epa.gov). Establishing the number of bins

4 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 4 needed to adequately store the waste generated is critical. This report was the only one to list their expenditure for the bins. Another challenge associated with bins is the type of bin selected. This is a challenge due to costs per bin type. A key challenge for the state fair is education. The public, vendors, and staff all need to be aware of the zero waste program. Creating an education campaign that effectively communicates the goals for the program will be a challenge for the organization. Deciding on what that means and what is feasible for the organization will need to be discussed. Proper training for the staff will also need to be considered. The organization hauls their own trash and will need to train their staff to sort out the waste. Tracking diversion efforts will be a challenge. The organization will need to determine what waste will be tracked and how they will track it. Defining how the organization will define zero waste will also factor into how the waste will be tracked. Per the Nebraska State Fair Zero Waste certification is when an event diverts at least 90% of their waste from the landfill (statefair.org). Many of the state fairs researched, concur with this definition of at least 90 percent waste diverted from the landfill and have worked towards that goal. However, considering that the AZ State Fair is pursuing this demanding effort for the first run, it might be more feasible to start with a lower goal such as 10-15% waste diversion and raise the goal higher with each additional year. Solutions The first part to this is defining zero waste for the event. Whether this definition comes in a number, a percent of waste diverted as a goal, or a general definition, transparency and consistency in communicating this definition from the staff to the public is important. This is an

5 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 5 idea that can be useful for staff to know what to say when a guest asks what zero waste is. Furthermore, this will facilitate a discussion about the extent to which zero waste will entail waste management and materials management. A criticism about zero waste plans is that The confusion between waste management and materials management is a problem in zero waste plans, which tend to rely heavily on waste management strategies. These plans aim to decrease disposal through recycling and organics management. That s good, but it s not enough. These plans need to get into nitty-gritty details about materials management ( Defining zero waste, 2014, p.1). How zero is zero waste? To what depth does the State Fair want to pursue this goal in thinking about the life cycle of all products at the fair, from extraction of resources to production to consumption to disposal? This could bring up discussions about the possibility of local food vendors, compostable materials, and the importance of preventing waste formation at the outset. When implementing a zero waste effort at an event, volunteers have proven to be very helpful in both engaging and educating the public and preventing contamination to recyclable materials. While flags and clear signage are important, the most effective method for materials recovery is to have trained people stationed at the point where the materials are discarded (Gainer, 2014). Volunteers could carefully selected and trained prior to the fair on recycling and composting procedures. They would be stationed in pairs at waste stations that have a regular trash bin, a recycling bin, and a compost bin. Two examples of case studies in which volunteers were successfully used are Zero Waste Humboldt and the Boulder County Fair. The North County Fair had a total of thirty-five community members volunteer to work at waste stations to help monitor and reduce contamination. At the Boulder County Fair, thanks to efforts from volunteers, Youth Corp. members, jail crew teams and the education of carnival crew members and visitors, Boulder County saved 29 mature Douglas fir trees; 11,900 gallons of water; 8,222

6 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 6 kilowatt-hours of energy and prevented tons of carbon dioxide emissions and pounds of air pollution (Boulder County Business Report). In general, the use of volunteers is a low-cost but highly effective way to promote a zero waste effort at the Arizona State Fair. It is important to realize that when implementing zero waste efforts in the fair, the guests of the fair are there for amusement and to have a good time. Incorporating fun into the effort is an effective way to engage the public in sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. An example taken from a case study in British Columbia, a fair organizes the Pumpkin Smash, an annual community event the weekend after Halloween, to invite residents of the Capital Region on Vancouver Island to compost their jack-o-lanterns instead of throwing them in the garbage (Vernon, 2007). This low cost event has been a big hit that guests and their kids look forward to each year. Not only would it be fun and amusing for fair guests, but it would also prevent all of those pumpkins from going to landfills. The Arizona State Fair takes place during the fall, which makes it perfect timing to try out this event. Another part of the solution could be utilizing relationships with the community, such as Keep Phoenix Beautiful, ASU School of Sustainability, Local First Arizona, Zero Waste at ASU, and other local organizations to encourage collaboration with a waste centric theme. By having these organizations represent themselves at the Fair, this will establish a zero waste theme, promote the efforts of local sustainable communities, and encourage at-home sustainability that can extend beyond the experience at the fair. Keep Phoenix Beautiful offers educational outreach programs with topics such as recycling, conserving water, and backyard composting and gardening (Keep Phoenix Beautiful, n.d.). Local First Arizona could be an organization to look for local vendors to serve as community role models for sustainability (Local First Arizona, n.d.).

7 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 7 This could simultaneously foster local sustainability by bringing awareness of these organizations and their green efforts. Another part of education is creating. A magazine called Maker Media features a list of DIY projects surrounding energy and sustainability. The magazine explains the power of making: Making is a meaningful form of personal expression that fosters creativity, builds community and encourages the collaborative practice of innovation ( Energy and sustainability, n.d.). To make the zero waste theme fun for the public, an exhibit could be featured that is focused on eco-friendly crafts. Having DIY tables could allow guests to learn about repurposing materials and give an opportunity for community collaboration to spread zero waste from the fair to home. An example would be using an old t-shirt and making it into a reusable bag. This could be a memorable experience and a souvenir that a guest will be able to leave with. These ideas could be integrated into the already-existing exhibits of the State Fair including photography, student art, floriculture, home arts, and culinary. From a staffing perspective, there runs the challenge of promoting the buy-in of the members involved, especially considering the Fair s hiring of 100 maintenance crew members for the 18-day event. To help motivate and educate staff members to properly divert recyclables, as well as promoting the sustainable culture that stakeholders are asking for, further promotion of the fair as a waste centric event or zero waste will strengthen their motivations. An important tool is communication, for feedback is particularly useful for engaging low performers, such as those within a new program. Utilizing these aspects within a training system will help build a level of personal responsibility and pride in the program (Keep America Beautiful 2013, pg.11). This ties into the planning stage for the fair, as most of the instruction will occur prior to the event s start time. With the help of the local organizations recruited for the event, a pre-fair

8 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 8 education outlining the basic practices, principles and benefits of recycling can give further attention to the efforts that must be made to operate cohesively. Building these relationships between the organizations and staff is vital for increased participation throughout all levels of the fair s waste stream. The volunteers will have contact with the public and should expect to be asked about the need for and purpose of the program (California Integrated Waste Mgmt. Board). A solution to further foster staff interaction with the event involves the use of mechanisms that track progress of recycling efforts. An idea is the implementation of scaledrecycling bins for high-traffic areas. Staff members being able to visually depict their efforts through live tracking is something that will allow them to develop a greater sense of how significant they are as intermediaries of the waste stream. There is also added value for the Fair itself, as it would be better adept at tracking waste by tonnage. Providing them with this data will cultivate their understanding of the magnitude of waste that is generated throughout the event, and could potentially lead to the creation of reduction strategies from the staff since they engaging the problem first-hand. Because of a relatively high cost for the type of scale needed ($500 for a Grainger Platform Bench Scale), this solution is considered to be a long-term investment with the possible addition of other equipment such cardboard balers and anaerobic digesters. An initial investment into a single scale may be the best option to gauge its effectiveness. Priorities The overall goal is to incorporate zero waste as part of the theme of the Arizona State Fair, so multiple solutions will be implemented. In order to successfully initiate a zero waste effort for the fair, we must prioritize our solutions. The order in which we prioritize our solutions

9 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 9 will depend on what can feasibly be done on a short-term basis. It makes the most sense that the solutions that are cost-efficient, but still highly impactful will be implemented first. The implementation of long-term solutions will depend on the success of the short-term solutions. First and foremost, having volunteers at zero waste stations will be a top priority. As previously stated, there have been case studies at other fairs in which having volunteers at zero waste events proved to be very beneficial in educating the public and reducing contamination. Instead of garbage cans, recycling stations throughout the grounds have separate receptacles for specific materials, including glass bottles, aluminum cans, polystyrene plates and cups, newspapers, and compostables (food scraps, paper plates and paper cups). Materials such as cardboard packaging are recovered directly from vendors for recycling. Signs and examples of proper and improper materials are displayed at each of the stations, most of which are monitored by volunteers who also educate festival participants about the importance of proper separation and answer specific questions. (Salter, 1999). This is a simple, cost-effective solution that will have a high impact on the public. The next priority would help to engage the public and combine fun and amusement with sustainability and environmental stewardship. DIY tables that offer demonstration and activities that allow people to hone their creativity while learning more about repurposing and recycling materials. The use of crafts to communicate zero waste to the public can be memorable and personal for the public, as well as giving the community the opportunity to exhibit their connection to the environment. Guests will not only leave the fair with a souvenir that they created themselves, but also the inspiration and knowledge to continue making eco-friendly crafts at home.

10 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 10 The next priority will address vendor buy-in and participation in the zero waste effort. It is important to incentivize vendors to foster a competitive green market at the fair. The Arlington County Fair Report suggested that green awards encouraged vendor participation by making it known that their efforts were recognized and appreciated. It also allowed for some friendly competition between vendors to earn the green awards, thus boosting morale and increasing effectiveness. Green awards could be earned with sustainable choices of vendors to use compostable silverware, recyclable materials, and could award vendors that care about local food resources.this effort could move the fair and its vendors to take accountability towards responsible consumption. The final priority that could be paired with the zero waste stations is the use of scaled recycling and compost bins, especially in highly trafficked areas of the fairgrounds. This is a solution that is also helpful in the engagement of the staff, as they are able to see the impact they are making in real time. This could potentially inspire them to develop more reduction strategies as they are first-handedly engaging in the problem. As previously stated, this is a long-term solution due to the cost and it could possibly be paired with the use of other equipment such as anaerobic digesters and cardboard balers. The implementation of the additional equipment would be determined based on the success of the scaled recycling and compost bins. Conclusion In conclusion, implementing a zero waste effort and incorporating zero waste as part of the theme at the Arizona State Fair will be effective by engaging the public, vendors, and the staff in a collective effort. While there has been limited research done on the costs of this particular issue, the efforts can be improved over time. Data can be gathered after the implementation of each solution to determine what has been successful and what needs

11 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 11 adjustment. As the short-term solutions prove their success, the fairgrounds can begin to invest in the costly, but more effective long-term solutions that address the entire systems-based approach of waste.

12 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 12 References Anonymous. (2007). Boulder County Fair uses zero waste with help from volunteers, other groups. Boulder County Business Report, Volume 26, Issue 23. 3A, 47A. CalRecycle. (n.d). Recycling at Special Events:A Model for Local Government Recycling and Waste Reduction. Sacramento, CA: California Integrated Waste Management Board. Retrieved from Defining "zero" waste. (2014, May 28). Waste360 [Online]. Retrieved from 26d0ea1affe78dbe74b b6?u=asuniv E. (n.d.). Recycle On the Go Success Story(pp. 1-4) (United States of America, Environmental Protection Agency). Retrieved February 22, 2018, from Energy & sustainability DIY projects for makers. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2018, from Gainer, M. (2014). North Country Fair Leads the Way with Zero Waste. Econews, Volume 44, Issue 4. Keep America Beautiful. (2013). Arlington County Fair Recycling and Composting Final Report November Stamford, CT: Keep America Beautiful. Keep Phoenix Beautiful. (n.d.). Education outreach program. Retrieved April 14, 2018, from Local First Arizona. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved April 14, 2018, from

13 Running head: ZERO WASTE FAIRGROUNDS GREEN POLICY BRIEF 13 N. (n.d.). State Fair Recycling and Environmental Sustainability Efforts. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from Salter, C. (1999). Festival seeks independence from the landfill. Biocycle, Volume 40, Issue Vernon, C. (2007). Pumpkin Smashing Builds Compost Awareness. BioCycle, Volume 48, Issue 4. 35,