The social aspect of festivals in the UK and the energetic entertainment featured in festivals draws millions of people per year. Music festivals alone locally attract almost seven million people. Also, millions more are attending events that are food related, dance, art and culture related events.Despite the excitement of British festivals, overuse and improper disposal of things or resources remain a problem.The management of wastes is a problem that organizers face, whether it is large or small events.Waste management is a very important aspect that needs to be well addressed in any festival that will be held at a specific site. All of us have witnessed the post event scenario where the management of wastes has not been done effectively. As a result, the fields are strewn with trash, left over tents and chairs etc.According to one report, music festivals camping in the United Kingdom produce 25,800 tonnes of waste each year. Preventive measures are always the best but not always feasible. Thus, the need to ensure that reusability is made a priority, and the festival attendees are educated on proper disposal of waste.If you are an organizer, here are practical strategies that you can employ to help you avoid problems and make the festival more sanitary and environmentally friendly.
Involve the guests!
Since festival goers are major contributors to on site waste, their participation is of paramount importance in the promotion of low waste practices. Some experts recommend that we take a green pledge for the event. These could be things like do not litter the festival grounds or other people, properly dispose of garbage in the right bins, and keep camps neat and clean.It is necessary to explain the policies for waste reduction at your event. List the items that should be avoided as they contribute to waste. In the same regard, come up with new measures that can help in the proper handling of wastes. For instance, cup return programs.Prior to the event, use emails and social media to interact with the attendees. Share with them several simple ways through which they could help in conserving the environment. Promote the utilization of cups, food containers, bags, and ashtray pouches that are recyclable. Provide recommendations for non-disposable products such as package-less personal care and a washcloth instead of wet wipes.
Choose Eco-Conscious Suppliers
While selecting the vendors or suppliers for your festival, try to select those who are conscious about environment. Try not to use polystyrene or any other material that cannot be recycled.If there are composting facilities for composting food waste, then try to encourage vendors who use biodegradable packaging which can be composted along with food waste. If composting is not possible, it is important that all the food packaging material is recyclable.Although accepting that waste cannot be eliminated completely, have specific and comprehensive conversations with each caterer about ways to reduce waste. Organizing your vendors to be as environmentally friendly as possible is a great way to make your event more sustainable and to show people that it is possible to make a difference.
Hire Waste Managers
Selecting the right waste management company is very important in the achievement of minimizing waste and recycling at your festival.Festivals are a difficult environment for waste management companies. They have to deal with a high level of contamination that leads to low recycling rates and complicates the work. While some of the firms may be reluctant to undertake these tasks, others will be willing to assist.However, do not fall for the lowest quote, as it may be very attractive but may involve compromising on the quality of a paper. Choose a company that is conscious of the environment and the need to recycle products rather than providing a fast and cheap fix.In negotiations with the shortlisted firms, ask them about the disposal of wastes and if they can give detailed waste statistics after the event.
Delegate On-Site Waste Management Crew
Festivals are always a bit messy, and it is hard to avoid littering. This means that planning ahead is of vital importance. Organize a clean-up crew to manage the waste generated during the event to ensure that the area is clean.This team will partner with your waste management company to clean bins and ensure that litter is collected on time. This way the bins will be clean and there will be no litter all over the site which will also improve the overall appearance of the site.Promote this team by recruiting volunteers who are willing to work for this team and in return they will be given a free ticket. Divide volunteers into shifts to be able to have a constant coverage of the festival throughout the day.
Plan a Post-Festival Cleanup
It is essential to note that even when a waste management plan has been put in place, there is still a lot of cleaning up to be done after an event. Ensure that your on-site personnel are ready to sort, dispose of, or deal with any leftover waste materials.After the camping event, there is usually a lot of litter left behind. Abandoned tents are something. Invest in measures to redistribute the abandoned tents to the needy population, ensuring environmental friendliness.For excess food from vendors, organize on how the same can be donated to needy charities or food banks in a bid to minimize wastage.When you are thinking about waste management after the event, you are already saving the environment while supporting social causes and creating a favorable image in the eyes of the attendees and the public.
