Towards Zero Waste Festivals Report

The Towards Zero Waste Festivals Report responds to common challenges identified by outdoor event organisers’ around waste management and reduction.

The report highlights the challenges and opportunities for sustainable waste management at UK greenfield festivals and provides solutions-focused recommendations for event organisers.

Julie’s Bicycle Climate Change Specialist Richard Phillips comments:

“This report will be a valuable tool for event managers to reduce waste and environmental impacts. There are some useful quick wins to improve efficiency and clear next steps for collective action to improve industry understanding and move toward more consistent approaches across the industry for everyone’s benefit.”

 

The Zero Waste Festival Report was created through in-depth stakeholder interviews, specialist knowledge from Resource Futures, input from an industry working group and a literature review.

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The report highlighted key areas organisers can focus on to reduce environmental impact:

• Separating food waste so that it can be composted.
• Eliminating waste and maximising reuse, banning problem materials, encouraging reuse and having deposit return schemes.
• Create a Materials Policy to manage waste reduction to increase recycling and reuse.
• Waste data capture and reporting and baseline setting.
• Strategic placement and emptying of bins.
• Audience communications to positively impact behaviour onsite.

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The project has been funded by the Dixon Foundation, supported by an industry working group of sustainability experts and industry stakeholders comprising Julie’s Bicycle, Manchester City Council, Sustainable Sidekicks, Native Events, National Eisteddfod of Wales and Festival Republic/Live Nation.