What you need for a paper drive

A paper drive needs more than vans and collection cages. You also need route signs, registration materials, weighing equipment, protective gear and a simple lunch setup for volunteers. Buy or collect supplies early enough to label routes, mark vehicles and prepare meeting points before people arrive. Check quantities against the number of routes, vans and volunteers, then keep a small reserve of pens, labels, gloves and cable ties for replacements during the day.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 20
Party tentsqty 2

Transport

Vansqty 3
Hand trucksqty 6
Palletsqty 12
Paper cagesqty 8

Equipment

Platform scale
Walkie-talkiesqty 6
Megaphone

Safety

Reflective vestsqty 20
Work glovesqty 24
Safety gogglesqty 10
Traffic conesqty 20
Barrier tapeqty 4
First aid kit

Organization

Route mapsqty 20
Route signsqty 8
Registration formsqty 40
Clipboardsqty 6
Waterproof markersqty 12
Ballpoint pensqty 20
Labelsqty 100
Cable tiesqty 200

Catering

Coffee machinesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Still water - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Bread - 12 loaves
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Gluten-free bread - 2 packages
- Butter - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Back ham - 2 kilos
- Chicken breast - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Napkins - 4 packs
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 2 packs
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles

Tableware

Reusable mugsqty 30
Reusable platesqty 30
Reusable cutleryqty 30

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Bucketsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Mopsqty 3

Tips

Plan one clipboard, route map and set of registration forms for each meeting point or volunteer team, plus at least 10% extra pens and labels. Waterproof markers are useful when signs or labels are handled outdoors.
Allow one reflective vest and pair of work gloves for every person working near vehicles or paper cages. Keep safety goggles available for dusty loading work, and place the first aid kit where all team leaders can reach it.
Use one hand truck for each active loading area and confirm that the pallets and paper cages fit the vans before collection day. A platform scale is needed if collected paper is weighed on site.
Prepare coffee and tea in thermos flasks before volunteers arrive, and provide reusable mugs, plates and cutlery for the sandwich lunch. Add coolers if food or drinks must remain cold between meeting points.
Print route maps and signs at least one day ahead, then pack each route in a separate labelled bundle. Keep cable ties, barrier tape and traffic cones together so signs and temporary safety measures can be installed quickly.

Frequently asked questions

What supplies do I need for a paper drive?: You need transport equipment such as vans, hand trucks, pallets and paper cages, plus route maps, signs, registration materials and weighing equipment. Safety supplies include reflective vests, gloves, goggles, cones, barrier tape and a first aid kit; catering requires coffee or tea equipment and reusable tableware.
How many safety vests and gloves do I need for a paper drive?: Prepare one reflective vest and one pair of work gloves for every volunteer handling vehicles, cages or collected paper. Add at least 10% extra pairs for damaged, wet or forgotten equipment.
When should I prepare the paper drive shopping list?: Check the full list at least one week before the collection and shop no later than two or three days before it. Print route materials and pack labelled bundles at least one day in advance.
How much coffee and lunchware do I need for paper drive volunteers?: Provide at least one reusable mug, plate and set of cutlery per volunteer, with 10% extra for replacements. Prepare enough coffee, tea and sandwich lunch for the full volunteer group, including route coordinators and drivers.

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