Red, White, and Green: How the Green Team Made a Splash at Sedona's 4th of July Celebration

There's something special about a community that celebrates its independence with a pool party instead of a parade. On Saturday, July 4th, 2026, families packed into the Sedona Community Pool for the annual Sedona Summer Splash — red rock views, live music, food trucks, a dunk tank, and hundreds of neighbors cooling off on the hottest holiday of the year. Right alongside the lifeguards and the star-spangled decorations, the GreenLight Solutions Green Team was there too, working to #StarvetheLandfill and make sure the celebration was as good for the planet as it was for the people.
Through Green Events Services, our team handles recycling, composting, food donation, and waste sorting at events of every size — from backyard gatherings to 50,000-person festivals. Sedona Summer Splash was that work in action.

A Pool Full of People, and a Planet Worth Protecting

Long before the first family walked through the gates, our crew was on-site building out Zero Waste Stations — landfill, recycling, and compost bins at every entrance and gathering point. It's easy to forget how much thought goes into a single trash can: clear signage, the right liner for the right stream, a "pour liquids here" bucket so half-finished lemonades don't contaminate a bag of recyclables. It's unglamorous work done in the desert heat, and it's exactly the kind of quiet effort that makes a beautiful day possible for everyone.

Long before the first family walked through the gates, our crew was on-site building out Zero Waste Stations — landfill, recycling, and compost bins at every entrance and gathering point. It's easy to forget how much thought goes into a single trash can: clear signage, the right liner for the right stream, a "pour liquids here" bucket so half-finished lemonades don't contaminate a bag of recyclables. It's unglamorous work done in the desert heat, and it's exactly the kind of quiet effort that makes a beautiful day possible for everyone.
By noon, the pool deck was packed. Kids cannonballed off the edge, lifeguards kept watch under red umbrellas, and the Sedona red rocks framed the scene. It's the kind of day this community waits all year for — and it's why our Green Team shows up. Every bottle sorted, every food container composted instead of landfilled, is one small act that adds up when a few hundred people do it together.

Zero Waste Stats

The Green Team's 4th of July Impact

• ♻️ 69% of event waste diverted from the landfill through recycling, composting, and waste sorting.
• 🚗 Greenhouse gas emissions prevented—equivalent to 158 miles driven.
• 📱 Emissions avoided—equal to charging 5,023 smartphones.

These results are part of something bigger. Over the past decade, GreenLight Solutions has engaged 436,000+ event attendees, mobilized 811 volunteers, contributed 3,546 volunteer hours (valued at $112,000), diverted 73 tons of waste, avoided 210 tons of CO₂ emissions, and helped fund 28,000 donated meals.
One event. One community. Lasting impact.
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The People Behind Bins

None of this happens without people willing to spend their holiday sorting other people's trash in the summer heat — with a smile. Huge thanks to our Green Team Lead, Tre Byrd for coordinating logistics from setup to breakdown. 

Between the dunk tank, the fire truck flying the flag, and the food trucks lining the fence, the Sedona Summer Splash is a reminder of what makes small towns special: everybody shows up. The Sedona Fire District, the lifeguards, the vendors, and the families who've been coming for years all made this event what it was. We're grateful the City of Sedona trusts GreenLight Solutions to help keep that tradition sustainable, and we can't wait to be back for the next one.

A special thank you to our partners: City of Sedona | Sedona Recycles | Compost Crowd — your support made a greener 4th of July possible for this community! ​

Join the Movement

Every event is an opportunity to do a little better for the planet — and there's a place for you in that effort:

• 🌿 Hosting an event? Schedule a Discovery Session with our Green Events team and let's bring sustainability to your next gathering, big or small.
• 🙋 Want to get hands-on? Volunteer with the Green Team and help us sort the next celebration into a success story.
• 💛 Want to sponsor GLS sustainability programs? Donate or reach out to our CEO, Ashley, at [email protected]. For every $1 donated, 1 lb is taken out of the landfill.​

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Here's to a red, white, and green 4th of July — and to every splash of impact still ahead.

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About the Author

Carla Jose - Linkedin
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Carla Jose is an Operations and Client Support professional specializing in lead management, CRM systems, and workflow coordination across industries including mortgage broking, construction services, and sustainability initiatives. She supports mission-driven teams by streamlining processes, managing client communications, and ensuring seamless event and operational execution. With a strong attention to detail and a proactive approach, Carla is passionate about using digital tools and efficient systems to help organizations deliver meaningful impact—both for their clients and the communities they serve.

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GreenLight Solutions is a nonprofit celebrating over a decade of sustainability solutions. Our mission is to advance green careers and green business.

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