Our Fair is a Great State Fair

Thanks in Large Part to Artistic Waste Services!

Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote in their musical State Fair, “Our Fair is a Great State Fair!” Obviously, millions agree given the attendance each year at the Iowa State Fair. And one thing that makes it great might be something you don’t even think about: Trash Management.

According to Tony Colosimo, CEO of Artistic Waste Services (Artistic), the Iowa State Fairgrounds is cleaner than it’s ever been. And he should know. He’s the guy in charge of the trash management for the Iowa State Fair.

“Most people don’t even think about the amount of waste that an event like the State Fair generates,” Colosimo said. “We’ve figured that the average person produces four pounds of waste at the Fair. When you multiply that by a million attendees, that’s a lot of trash!”

So Colosimo and crew set out every morning to make sure that the Iowa State Fairgrounds looks its best. “We’re proud to be an Iowa company supporting an Iowa institution like the Fair” Colosimo said. “We use the best trucks in the world, manufactured right here in Iowa, in Scranton. Most people don’t know they are the 2nd largest manufacturer of refuse bodies in the world.” Colosimo adds that the refuse trucks used at the Fair are brand new and state of the art. “We like to use the Fair as a showcase for how trash management should be handled everywhere.”

Just look at these staggering Iowa State Fair Trash Management Statistics:

• 50 people on staff (30 are hired just for the Fair)
• Trash management is staffed 20 hours per day
• 15 trucks are used each day on the Fairgrounds
• 1100 trash cans are monitored constantly, some are dumped more than 50 times per day

Colosimo reminds us that there are actually four main sources of trash during the Fair: Livestock, Barrels, Commercial Waste, and the Campground.

“Most people don’t realize the amount of recycling we do with the animal bedding at the Fair.” Colosimo said. “We work hard to recycle 100% of the animal bedding, reclaiming it for compost.”

Colosimo also mentioned the campground. “It’s just amazing. The Iowa State Fair Campground becomes something like the 5th largest city in the state of Iowa during the Fair. We take care of all of that waste too.”

“Our commitment to the Fair is personal, as well as professional,” Colosimo said. “And it’s that kind of dedication that makes us good at our jobs.”

Here’s some ways to make your Iowa State Fair footprint a little smaller

• Bring your own water bottle to fill at water fountains placed throughout the grounds
• Don’t pick up flyers and other pieces of paper that you don’t seriously intend to use
• Dispose of all waste properly
• Take the DART shuttle bus instead of driving your own car
• Don’t throw cigarette butts on the ground, place them in trash containers (Colosimo says that the #1 litter item at the Fair is cigarette butts that have to be picked up off the ground).