The Madison City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday requiring recycling plans for city events with street-use permits.
The proposal follows a push from the city's Solid Waste Committee for stricter recycling regulations for some of Madison's biggest events.
Madison Recycling Coordinator George Dreckmann said some city events have recycling plans in place but many have none.
Those are the events where a lot of that stuff was probably finding its way into the trash.""
The regulation would make recycling plans a permanent requirement for any event selling items in recyclable containers, according to Ald. Tim Gruber, District 11, one of the co-sponsors of the ordinance.
Additionally, event coordinators must have an adequate amount of recycling bins and contact Dreckmann with a recycling plan before the event in order to receive a permit.
The city has received many concerned calls from the public regarding excessive trash after events, according to Dreckmann. The new ordinance is not expected to be an issue with event coordinators.
""It may be a little extra work in a way, but it's gone pretty smoothly,"" Gruber said.
""[Event coordinators] have to get rid of the trash anyway, it's just a matter making sure you can separate the recyclables,"" Gruber said.
Events on Capitol Square, such as the Taste of Madison and the Art Fair on the Square, are among those the ordinance hopes to improve.
Dreckmann also predicts the ordinance help enforce recycling measures at smaller events throughout the city.
""Were hoping the publicity from this will help us to get to some smaller events, church festivals and neighborhood block parties,"" Dreckmann said.
Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12, who co-sponsored the ordinance, expressed her thanks to the city for its recent environmentally conscious efforts at the meeting.
""I hope this is one step along the way to increase recycling,"" Rhodes-Conway said.
