MyMatR
www.parkworld-online.com
The future of sustainable amusement parks I
magine a sunny day at an amusement park. People buzz with excitement as they queue for rollercoasters, explore attractions, and grab
picture are the overflowing trash bins, responsible for containing the enormous amount of waste generated daily. Amusement parks produce thousands of pounds
of waste every week, including plastic cups, food wrappers, and packaging, and often throw out food scraps and potential recyclables that could be diverted from landfills if properly sorted. When the high volume of waste is combined with poorly labelled receptacles or poorly placed bins, the result is often a contaminated waste stream that makes proper recycling and diversion nearly impossible.
parks are under growing pressure to improve sustainability. However, they face steep operational and behavioural challenges. Influencing consumer behaviour and encouraging proper disposal is difficult, and gathering consistent waste data that actually reveals contamination rates and areas for improvement is even harder. Traditional waste audits are manual, costly, and outdated. What that will streamline facility operations, cut costs, and improve sustainability efforts. Emerging technologies and creative strategies
are reimagining amusement park waste in a way that is both more efficient and more environmentally friendly:
Smart Waste Systems Make Disposal Interactive and Fun actionable data.
utilise sensor and AI vision technology, and a bins into powerful data collectors and sources of
much of it is recyclable or compostable, and where contamination occurs most often. These insights allow operations teams to target
problem areas, optimise bin placement, and train staff more effectively. For parks, this means less contamination, lower hauling costs, and better ESG reporting, all while keeping the guest experience seamless and enjoyable.
dashboards. These solutions, as well as one of automatically sort between trash and recycling, significantly lowering contamination rates and improving recycling. Interactive screens show sorting accuracy and diversion scores in real time, turning sustainability into a shared game. Guests can instantly see the impact of their actions, making recycling feel like part of the fun rather than a chore.
Innovative Approaches to Concessions A shining example of sustainability in entertainment Arena, which opened with one of the most ambitious waste goals in professional sports: diverting over 95% of all waste away from landfills.
Every detail of the fan experience was
loop system where a partner company collects, washes, and redistributes cups for every event.
Behind the scenes, 10 to 12 tons of waste are generated per event, adding up to nearly 1,500 tons annually across 150 events. To manage this, the arena partnered with Waste
compost, recycling, and landfill streams. The team bag that comes down from our concourse is ripped This is a tangible example of how data and
scale, proving that operational sustainability is possible.
The Future of Sustainable Amusement Parks concessions, these innovations mark the beginning of a much larger shift: one where environmental responsibility enhances the guest experience. As technology continues to evolve, opportunities
for deeper impact are growing. Parks are and refillable packaging programs, like those extend into food courts and souvenir stands. Even digital engagement tools, such as gamified recycling stations or mobile apps that reward sustainable behaviour, offer new ways to make mission. Imagine an amusement park that tells a story not
only through its attractions, but through its actions. gaining tools to create a cleaner, smarter, and more responsible future for entertainment.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
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