Greener Gatherings: Sustainability Tips for Summer Events

Summer is the season of getting together. Across the UK, communities, businesses and organisations are hosting everything from beer and food festivals to school sports days, summer fêtes, company BBQs, outdoor markets and family picnics.

These events are a highlight of the warmer months, bringing people together to enjoy great food, entertainment and community spirit. However, they can also generate a surprising amount of waste. Disposable cups, food packaging, leftover food, promotional materials and general litter can quickly add up, particularly at larger events.

As sustainability becomes an increasing priority for businesses and communities alike, many organisers are looking for ways to make their summer events more environmentally responsible without compromising the experience.

Here are some practical ways to reduce waste and improve sustainability at this summer's events.

Summer Events and Their Environmental Impact

Whether it's a local village fête or a large food festival, most outdoor events share common waste challenges.

Some of the biggest sources of event waste include:

• Food packaging and containers

• Disposable drink cups

• Plastic bottles and cans

• Leftover food

• Decorations and signage

• Promotional materials

• General litter

Without proper planning, much of this waste can end up in general waste streams when it could have been recycled or recovered.

The good news is that simple measures can make a significant difference.

Beer and Food Festivals: Tackling Packaging Waste

Food and drink festivals have become increasingly popular across the UK, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

While they offer fantastic opportunities to showcase local produce and independent businesses, they can also create large volumes of packaging waste.

Organisers can improve sustainability by:

• Encouraging vendors to use recyclable or compostable packaging

• Providing clearly labelled recycling stations throughout the site

• Introducing reusable cup schemes where practical

• Separating food waste from general waste

• Working with suppliers that prioritise sustainable packaging

Making recycling easy for visitors can dramatically increase recovery rates and reduce contamination.

Company BBQs and Workplace Summer Events

Corporate summer events are a great way to boost morale and bring teams together, but they often rely heavily on disposable products.

Simple changes can help reduce waste significantly:

• Use reusable plates, cutlery and serving equipment where possible

• Provide recycling and food waste bins alongside general waste bins

• Avoid individually packaged condiments and snacks

• Estimate attendance carefully to minimise food waste

• Encourage employees to bring reusable water bottles

These small adjustments can help businesses align summer celebrations with wider sustainability goals.

School Sports Days and Community Events

Sports days remain a summer staple across schools, colleges and community groups.

With hundreds of attendees often gathering for a single day, waste management can quickly become a challenge.

Practical sustainability measures include:

• Setting up clearly marked recycling points

• Encouraging families to bring reusable drinks bottles

• Reducing single-use plastics at refreshment stands

• Using digital communications instead of printed materials where possible

• Reusing banners and event signage year after year

Many schools are also using events like sports days as opportunities to educate young people about recycling and environmental responsibility.

Summer Fêtes and Village Celebrations

From church fêtes and charity fundraisers to local summer fairs, community events are at the heart of the British summer.

These events often depend on volunteers and limited budgets, making simple sustainability measures particularly valuable.

Some effective approaches include:

• Providing separate bins for recycling and general waste

• Encouraging stallholders to minimise packaging

• Offering refill stations for water bottles

• Reusing decorations and event materials

• Working with local suppliers to reduce transport emissions

Small changes across multiple stalls and activities can make a substantial difference overall.

Picnics and Outdoor Gatherings

Picnics may seem low-impact compared to larger events, but they can still generate significant waste when disposable items are used.

Whether organised by businesses, community groups or families, picnics can be made more sustainable by:

• Bringing reusable containers and tableware

• Avoiding unnecessary packaging

• Taking all waste home if facilities are limited

• Recycling bottles, cans and packaging correctly

• Planning portions carefully to reduce food waste

The classic principle of "leave no trace" remains one of the most effective sustainability strategies for outdoor events.

Make Recycling Visible and Accessible

Regardless of the type of event, one of the most important factors in successful recycling is visibility.

Attendees are much more likely to recycle correctly when bins are:

• Easy to find

• Clearly labelled

• Located near food and drink areas

• Supported by simple signage

If recycling facilities are difficult to locate or confusing to use, valuable recyclable materials can quickly end up in general waste.

Don't Forget Food Waste

Food waste is often one of the largest waste streams generated at summer events.

Whether it's unsold festival food, leftover BBQ supplies or picnic waste, separating food waste from general waste can have a significant environmental benefit.

Careful planning, realistic attendance estimates and dedicated food waste collections can all help minimise unnecessary waste.

Creating Greener Events This Summer

Sustainability doesn't have to mean sacrificing enjoyment. In fact, many attendees now expect event organisers to take environmental responsibility seriously.

By reducing single-use materials, encouraging recycling, managing food waste effectively and planning ahead, organisers can create memorable events that leave a positive impact on both attendees and the environment.

From beer festivals and food markets to sports days, summer fêtes, BBQs and picnics, every event presents an opportunity to make a difference.

How Cawleys Can Help

At Cawleys, we help organisations manage waste responsibly through tailored recycling and waste management solutions. Whether you're planning a community event, corporate gathering or large-scale festival, our team can help ensure waste is handled efficiently and sustainably.

This summer, let's make great events greener events.

FAQ’s

• How can I make my summer event more sustainable?

  Start by reducing waste wherever possible. Use reusable or recyclable materials, provide clearly labelled recycling bins, minimise unnecessary packaging and plan food quantities carefully to reduce food waste.

• What types of waste are most common at summer events?

  Food packaging, disposable cups, plastic bottles, cans, food waste, promotional materials and general litter are among the most common waste streams generated at summer events.

• Why is recycling important at festivals and outdoor events?

  Effective recycling helps divert valuable materials away from general waste, conserves resources and reduces the environmental impact of events. It can also help organisers meet sustainability goals and improve attendee perceptions.

• How can food waste be reduced at events?

  Food waste can be reduced by accurately estimating attendance numbers, planning catering requirements carefully, separating food waste from other waste streams and donating surplus food where possible.

• What are the benefits of using reusable products at events?

  Reusable products can significantly reduce waste generation, lower long-term costs and help create a more sustainable event experience. Common examples include reusable cups, plates, cutlery and water bottles.

• How can event organisers encourage attendees to recycle?

  Make recycling simple and visible. Place clearly labelled bins throughout the venue, provide clear signage and communicate recycling messages before and during the event.

• Are sustainable events more expensive to organise?

  Not necessarily. While some sustainable initiatives may involve upfront costs, many measures—such as reducing waste, reusing materials and improving resource efficiency—can lead to cost savings over time.

• How can Cawleys support sustainable events?

  Cawleys provides tailored waste management and recycling solutions for events of all sizes. From waste collection and recycling services to expert advice on reducing environmental impact, our team can help create a cleaner, greener event experience.