Objective: Reduce, re-use and recycle waste
Waste is a challenge during major events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The City estimated that fans would produce 0,275 kg of waste per day during the event. Therefore, in May 2006, the City adopted an Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP), which subscribed to waste minimisation principles (avoid, reduce, re-use and recycle), with sending waste to landfill indicated as a last resort. The policy applied to all 2010 FIFA World Cup™ venues and events held in Cape Town.
The projects
Project actions
Operational waste minimisation in stadia, the FIFA Fan Fest™, PVAs and training venues in the run-up to and during the event
Green Goal branding of recycling bins and waste minimisation signage
The LOC and host cities set a target of 20% for diversion of waste from landfill sites for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Host City Cape Town, in turn, set this as a target for the operators of the FIFA Fan Fest™, the fan walk and fan jols. All operators were required to introduce measures to avoid, minimise and recycle waste.
Examples of waste avoidance measures put in place at the various venues included the following:
- Used reusable crockery and cutlery rather than disposable cutlery and tableware in the hospitality areas of all venues.
- Used reusable plastic crates instead of single-use cardboard boxes for catering supplies in Cape Town Stadium hospitality areas.
- No promotional handouts at the entrance gates to Cape Town Stadium, the FIFA Fan Fest™ and fan jols.
- Scanned tickets at the entrance gates to Cape Town Stadium, eliminating the need for ticket stubs.
- Used dispensers for condiments and sugar at the FIFA Fan Fest™ instead of single-serving sachets.
- Used draught and soda fountains for serving soft drinks at the FIFA Fan Fest™, thereby avoiding spent glass and plastic bottles and cans.
- Made available reusable, commemorative cups at the FIFA Fan Fest™.
- Encouraged fans to drink tap water (as opposed to bottled water) at water fountains in eight locations at the FIFA Fan Fest™ as well as along the fan walk.
- Limited packaging of merchandise sold at Cape Town Stadium and the FIFA Fan Fest™.
Where waste could not be avoided, measures were taken to minimise waste or use packaging and materials that could be recycled. Examples included the following:
- Minimised packaging of food sold at kiosks, giving preference to cardboard and paper products that decompose quickly.
- Recycled polystyrene packaging used at the FIFA Fan Fest™ through a local polystyrene recycling company.
- Sold all beverages at Cape Town Stadium in recyclable PET plastic bottles.
- Restricted use of glass containers in public areas to reduce the risk of injury to the public and service providers.
A two-bin collection system for wet waste and dry recyclable waste was implemented at Cape Town Stadium, the FIFA Fan Fest™ and the fan jols, so that the dry waste could be completely separated and made available for highgrade recycling. The LOC developed appropriate signage to promote waste separation at these venues, and the LOC environmental services volunteers promoted the use of the two-bin system among fans.
The City also implemented a split-bin recycling system along the main pedestrian routes in the Cape Town CBD, including the fan walk. These dual litter bins remain in place in certain areas after the event.
The waste recycling programme at the various venues and along pedestrian routes was largely successful. A total waste diversion and recycling rate of 58% was achieved against the 20% target set by host cities and the LOC. At the stadium itself, 65% of waste was diverted from landfill to recycling. The main recycled waste item was cardboard. At the FIFA Fan Fest™, 42% of waste was recycled, and along the main pedestrian areas in the CBD, the average recycling rate was 58%. (See Table 13 and Figures 7 and 8).
It is interesting to refl ect on how much waste generated inside venues (controlled areas = 0,34 kg/pppd) will vary from waste in general areas. The initiatives put in place either through procurement policy (e.g. banning the use of certain packaging, service contracts etc.), on-site controls and on-site infrastructure (different bins, etc.) defi nitely made a difference (about four-fold in this instance compared to 1.33). This is all the more reason to ensure that as far as major event planning goes, the City must ensure that these measures are put in place and costed by event planners/ organisers, as there is ultimately a saving for the rate payer.
The cleaning of the stadium and other event venues, including the CBD and other major party areas, started immediately after the venues had closed and the fans had dispersed. Many fans commented that it never looked the next morning as if there had been a major event in the city the day before. All waste collected from cleaning the event venues and the fan walk was also sorted and recycled where possible.
A large quantity of vinyl, PVC and polyester branding material was donated to the Cape Craft and Design Institute after the event, for use by local crafters. Various products were manufactured from these materials, including bags
Recycling drop-off centres in the CBD and on the Atlantic Seaboard
Following the adoption of the City’s IWMP in 2006, a need was identifi ed for well-controlled and secure recycling dropoff facilities in the Cape Town CBD and surrounding areas. Such facilities would provide the public with an area where clean recyclable items only, such as glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and cans, could be dropped off at no charge. All recyclables would be recovered from the waste stream, and sold/donated to the manufacturing stream for reuse.
Consequently, as legacy projects of the 2010 Green Goal programme, the construction of two facilities, one in the CBD and another in Sea Point, started in 2008. At the time, it was envisaged that these facilities would receive recyclable waste from Cape Town Stadium and the FIFA Fan Fest™ during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. However, due to delays in the permitting process, the facilities could not be launched in time.
The Sea Point recycling drop-off facility opened on 1 December 2010, while the CBD facility is scheduled to open in mid-2011.
Lessons learned on integrated waste management
Host City Cape Town’s IWMP for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ was conceived three years in advance, which allowed sufficient time to schedule capital and operational works, acquire additional equipment, appoint contractors, and schedule area cleaning. Effective planning was paramount to the overall success of the event.
The assumptions of waste per person were over optimistic in all venues apart from the Cape Town Stadium; however the recycling target was exceeded at all venues.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ demonstrated that separate waste collection can be successful at the sites where spectators assemble, not only inside the stadium and at the FIFA Fan Fest™, but also in the direct vicinity of the stadium, at admission control areas, and along the main pedestrian routes. In fact, more waste appears to have been generated outside the venues than within their bounds.
The support of the LOC, FIFA and the FIFA commercial affiliates were critical to implement an integrated waste management system, particularly at Cape Town Stadium. The split-bin recycling system added to the cost of hosting the event. However, all parties agreed that the benefits justified the additional cost.
Waste separation played an important part in increasing fans’ environmental awareness. However, fans could have been better informed about separate waste collection prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, for example at the time of selling tickets, on the FIFA website, in the official fan guide, etc.
The purchase of additional equipment and the construction of two drop-off centres were legacy investments that have increased the City’s capacity to separate and recycle waste, and reduce the amount of waste finally sent to landfill sites.
Throughout the World Cup one of the key success factors was the manner in which good waste management added to the general tourist appeal and fan experience.
In general, the waste avoidance, reduction, recycling and cleaning efforts of Host City Cape Town were highly successful and widely commended.
Key references for integrated waste management
- City of Cape Town. 2007. Integrated Waste Management Business Plan.
- Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. July 2008. National Greening 2010 Framework. Tshwane.
- FIFA Local Organising Committee (LOC). 2008. Minimum Environmental Standards for Green Goal 2010 (Unpublished).
- FIFA Local Organising Committee (LOC). 2009. Proposal for bin stickers in stadia and fan fests for Confederations Cup and World Cup. E-mail of 5 May.
- Germany. 2006. Green Goal Legacy Report 2006 FIFA World Cup™. Frankfurt.
- Host City Cape Town. July 2010. Event-Reporting Tool data report.
- Ozinsky, S., Ackermann, K. and Lamb, S. January 2009. Green Point Park and ECO Centre Business Plan. Cape Town, South Africa. Commissioned by City of Cape Town.