Sights & Sounds earns zero-waste status

Sights & Sounds of Christmas achieved zero-waste status for the first time in its 33-year history. 

The 2019 event had 10% or less of all its waste sent to the landfill, according to the City of San Marcos. 

“A goal like this is not achieved without lots of hard work, dedication and determination to make a difference,” said Community Enhancement Initiatives Manager Amy Kirwin, who leads the city’s Resource Recovery team.  “Hundreds of volunteers donated time to this effort to help direct attendees and to sort waste when necessary.”

The Sights & Sounds Board, which is comprised of community members and city staff, committed to becoming a zero-waste event in 2017. New rules established in a coordinated, strategic effort between the board, the City of San Marcos Resource Recovery team and Texas State University’s Human Environment Animal Team organization helped the event achieve its goal. 

The rules established in the coordinated effort required vendors and others contributing to the event to work with reusable or compostable materials whenever possible to minimize waste. The event’s board and city staff installed eco-stations with recycling and composting containers to give attendees access to green waste receptacle alternatives. 

“We began working toward this goal three years ago and are so excited about achieving a zero-waste event this year,” Sights & Sounds Chair Tommy Curtis said in a statement.  “I’m proud of our team and the community for setting an example for environmental stewardship.”

In 2018, 83% of event waste was diverted from the landfill, which helped Sights & Sounds earn the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce’s Green Business Award. In 2019, 92.4% — or 19,460 of 21,060 pounds — of waste was recycled or composted.