For Festivals

View our NEW FESTIVAL WASTE SUSTAINABILITY GUIDEBOOK

This page is still under construction. Check back soon for more updates!

Free Zero Waste Sorting Station Bin Rentals & More  
UCRRA’s Recycling Outreach Team offers free, zero-waste sorting station bin rentals! Each Sorting Station includes three bins—trash, recycling, and compost—along with frames, color-coded lids, and signs. Simply fill out a Bin Rental Request Form,agree to the Terms and Conditions, and contact a member of our Recycling Outreach Team a few weeks prior to your event.  Please note that UCRRA does not deliver or pick up any bins; you will schedule your pick up and drop off during our normal business hours. All supplies are property of UCRRA and must be returned without damages or missing parts. All rentals are free of charge, unless of damages or missing supplies, as outlined in the Rental Agreement. The individual and/or the business entity completing the Agreement assumes full responsibility of the care and maintenance of the bin(s), supplies, and equipment. The Recycling Outreach Team has many other educational services available for event organizers to engage their planning committee about waste-sustainability. Please contact us to learn more!

Site Visits & Consultations
The Recycling Outreach Team is available to assist festival organizers with free and professional consultation services to improve or implement recycling, composting, or waste reduction programs. Are you recycling as much as you could be? Are there other ways to reduce disposal costs by reducing waste? What’s involved with starting a composting program? Our team can help you develop a successful plan to reach your goals and connect you to resources for your projects, or help with team-building activities and presentations to help motivate the planning committee. Please contact us to learn more!

Composting Services
Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency’s Partners in Composting Program is available to large food scrap generators such as special festivals/events. Partners must become enrolled in our composting service to set up a new composting account. To learn more, please contact Angelina Brandt, Director of Sustainability at APEO@UCRRA.ORG. UCRRA’s Recycling Outreach Team can review other composting options too!

Mandatory Recycling 
Recycling is mandatory in Ulster County. All persons, commercial businesses, schools, institutions, and non-profit organizations are required to source separate the regulated recyclable materials. The UCRRA Recycling Outreach Team is available to assist with education and enforcement practices to ensure compliance with the Ulster County Recycling Law. Visit our webpage to learn more about local laws.

In 2025, Ulster County launched Green the Scene: We Are Zero-Waste Bound!, a grant program designed to support and encourage sustainable event practices that reduce waste and promote environmental stewardship across the County. The program was able to divert 50% of waste from five festivals, serving over 15,000 attendees.

Based on feedback from event coordinators, Ulster County is actively developing Green the Scene for the 2026 festival season.

Please note that Green the Scene is a County initiative, and not administered by UCRRA. For questions about the program, contact Brendan Walsh at bwal@ulstercountyny.gov or (845) 334-5364.

BPI Certified Compostable Serviceware Products // List

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation // Alternatives to Single Use Disposal Foam Containers Guide 

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation // Recycling & Composting 

Hudson Valley Garlic Festival // Showcasing a local Zero Waste Festival

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation // How To Conduct WasteAudit2008.pdf

North East Recycling Council // Best Mgmt Practices for Zero Waste Planning

NYS Association for Reduction, Reuse, Recycling // Food Donation Digital Tools

NYS Center for Sustainable Community Solutions // Browse all Grant Opportunities