FAQ

Recycling, Litter & Waste Management - Job Description

We work on many different types of events thus each Recycling, Litter & Waste Management job we undertake is different.

During an event most of the litter on the floor is picked up and placed in our custom high-performance binbags, which are removed into skips. Cardboard is folded and stacked for either recycling or for placing in skips.

Wheelie bins are placed around the arena and its entrances - binbags are inserted to hold the litter. When full the bags are taken to skips and another bag is placed in the bin.

Larger 1100 litre wheelie bins are sometimes used for the food and market concessions, these are either emptied during the event or after the show has finished. These bins may be emptied into a mobile waste compactor, or a truck may be used to lift and empty the bins.

At many events, arenas may need to be cleared overnight ready for the following day’s show - here litter is often picked by hand as the litter pliers are too slow, only picking one piece of litter at a time. These night shifts can be very important in ensuring an event is able to open on time the following day – this is a big responsibility!

Many of the events we work on, particularly music festivals, have a camping element. The campsites are cleared on a regular basis, with emphasis on keeping the roadways clear and removing the waste from the concessions to skips, or if possible trucks.

After the event we undertake a thorough litter pick of the event site, removing all waste and returning the venue to its original condition. It can take from two days to two weeks to clear the litter and waste, this with as many as 150 staff working in teams on the fields.

Risks:

Gloves are always available - even if you are using litter pliers it is sensible to wear gloves to protect your hands.

Lifting the bins is often hard work and you must remember to lift safely, bending your legs and keeping the back straight when you lift.

Cuts and abrasions are sometimes encountered - you must clean and dress wounds to stop the risk of infection.

Broken glass and other hazardous waste may sometimes be found - you must take care in dealing with these and use litter pliers where necessary to avoid injury or contamination.