Beyond recycling - inspirational ideas for your event’s sustainability

Here we share how three inspiring events go beyond recycling to improve their sustainability.

Waste reduction at Big Red Bash and Mundi Mundi Bash

The Bashes’ organisers leave the festivals’ desert sites as they found them. They are so effective at engaging attendees in sustainable choices, that a walk through of the entire site after 12,000 people leave yields one small bag of rubbish (!)

The organisers’ waste reduction strategies are intricately entwined with reducing emissions (and costs!) from diesel. Composting portaloos save trucking in 140,000 litres of water for each event and using chemicals. All compostables including food leftovers and food containers are composted on site then given to local farmers.

Here’s how the organisers ask attendees to join them in being sustainable (though the camp rules also help attendees understand what to do with waste, recyclables, and grey and blackwater):

Engaging others at Woodford Folk Festival

Woodford Folk Festival’s sustainability policy has been guiding the event organisers’ decisions, planning and activities for over 20 years. Just a few snippets from it show how they go beyond recycling to maximise their impact.

Participation

• Involve many people in environmental projects providing broader experience as well as ownership of outcomes.

Advocacy

• Use our participation in any public forum to influence individuals and community groups in favour of environmental concerns.

• Use our unique position to create alliances between the folk movement, the environment lobby and Government agencies

Marketing

• Communicate a strong image of the festival as being environmentally friendly and responsible.

• Enter into partnerships only with others who have a strong commitment to the environment.

Accounting

• Establish performance criteria

• Use an auditing and reporting system to accurately measure the festival’s environmental performance each year

Engaging attendees at Darwin Festival

Darwin Festival’s sustainability page encourages attendees to “join us in our vision to reduce our impact” with these tips:

• Walk or ride to events if you can.

• Scoot between Festival venues on an e-scooter.

• Whenever possible, take public transport.

• See the festival with friends by carpooling.

• Say no to single-use plastic, bring your own drinking containers, or purchase a reusable cup from the bar.

• Use the four bin recycling system provided.

• Recycle your program, or gift it to a friend.