Sustainability
Greening of the Cincinnati Coffee Festival
The Ohio River Foundation has been advocating for, protecting, and educating about the importance of a clean environment and clean waterways for nearly 20 years. We have educated more than 40,000 schoolchildren, restored miles of rivers and hundreds of acres of habitat, and continue to protect water quality for millions of people in the Ohio River Watershed. Please join us in continuing this narrative and help us grow the Cincinnati Coffee Festival to be the most environmentally responsible festival in the country!
Since 2019, Cincinnati Coffee Festival has been taking steps to drastically reduce its landfill-bound waste. In 2022, Cincinnati Coffee Festival’s composting efforts collected 2,538 lbs. (640 gallons!) of compostable materials and food waste! That converts to removing 30,000 miles of driving emissions from the atmosphere. That mileage will take you from New York to California 10 times over!
All compostable sample cups, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and leftover crumbs from the festival become fertilizer for local farmers, landscapers, and gardeners instead of going into a landfill.
In 2021, Cincinnati Coffee Festival’s composting efforts collected 1,518 lbs. (384 gallons!) of compostable materials and food waste! That converts to removing 17,946 miles of driving emissions from the atmosphere. That mileage will take you from New York to California six times over!
Greening the Cincinnati Coffee Festival is an initiative to reach zero waste and ultimately become the most environmentally conscious festival in America! In support of this initiative, Ohio River Foundation has reduced printing waste by using cardboard backed signage instead of foam core, increased use of electronic communications instead of mailers, and is engaging the community through education and volunteerism. With your help, we can also divert high levels of both recyclable and compostable materials from entering our landfills.
At our festival, you will notice that our “waste hubs” have three different categories: compost, recycling, and landfill. When visiting our festival, please be sure to look for these “waste hubs” and sort your waste properly. Don’t worry; we will have signs nearby to guide you!
Compost
What we compost at Cincinnati Coffee Festival:
- ALL food waste
- Coffee grounds
- Wooden skewers and utensils
- Non-coated paper plates, napkins, and cups
- Compostable (BPI certified) plastic products
All festival generated compostables are sent to GoZERO, a Food Waste Compost Courier, for industrial compost processing. Click here for our Cincinnati Coffee Festival compostable guide.
Recycle
What we will recycle at the Cincinnati Coffee Festival:
- Plastic and glass bottles and jugs
- Aluminum cans
- Paperboard and cardboard
- Cartons
- Paper and paper inserts
All recyclables are handled by Rumpke Recycling. Click here for a Recycling Quick Reference Guide: https://www.rumpke.com/for-your-home/recycling
How can you do your part during the event?
- Place all compostable materials only into bins labeled “Compost.”
- Place recyclables only into bins labeled “Recycling.”
- Ask a CCF Green Team Volunteer for assistance if you’re unsure which bin to use!
- Bring your own mug! Vendors will happily pour samples into personal mugs.
- Bring your own water bottle!
- Carpool, rideshare, scooter, or bike to the event to save money and reduce emissions. You can find the Duke Energy Convention Center bike rack outside the front entrance on Fifth and Elm streets.
- Avoid purchasing items with unnecessary packaging that is neither recyclable nor compostable.
- Recycle all acquired handouts and fliers after they are no longer needed.
