Waste planning can be inclusive of managing the waste that's created in the preparations leading up to the event and also waste that is created during and post-event. Waste management is a crucial element in making an event sustainable and reducing the impact of the event on the local and general environment. Events, particular those with numerous attendees, can significantly contribute to landfill waste without a thorough waste plan for the event.

Waste planning should begin with what the event organisers and their organization want to achieve. The plan should outline who will take on the responsibility (internally or outsourced) for the policies agreed upon when planning the event in relation to managing waste and what standards, if any, the organization will follow and endeavor to be accredited with. A great objective to start with is one of ‘Leave No Trace' where the site(s) used for the preparation and execution of the events are left in conditions that are as good or better than they were before the organization and event arrived.

Waste management plans can include objectives such as:

• reducing the use of products as much as possible
  
• ensuring materials used are environmentally friendly with minimal packaging
  
• encouraging the use of composting and recycling systems over disposals to general waste bins