Rock ‘n’ Roll ‘n’ Recycle

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Music fans can now protect the planet while grooving to their favorite bands this summer. More concert venues are rocking and rolling out recycling bins than ever to collect the cans, bottles, and other wastes that are discarded in large quantities at each show. By implementing a waste reduction program, music festivals and venues have found that they can reduce their carbon footprint while reducing event costs.

Bonnaroo

These collapsible recycling bins can be used to collect recyclables at special events.

Drawing nearly 100,000 attendees every June since 2002, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee may be the most prominent music show in the United States today. The festival’s producers have worked with Clean Vibes since the beginning to help mange and recycle most of the waste. In fact, last year Clean Vibes recycled 60 percent of all Bonnaroo waste. There are more than 2,000 recycling bins scattered throughout the festival grounds for fans to conveniently recycle their bottles and cans and collect food waste for compost. The company has diverted more than 850 tons of recyclable and compostable material from the landfill, sending much of it to WastAway, also in Tennessee. WastAway then recycles the material for use in plant bedding, building materials and lawn furniture among other items.

This year’s Bonnaroo saw the introduction of the Clean Vibes Trading Post, where bags of recyclables can be traded in for a variety of green gifts, from earth-friendly beauty products and organic clothing to autographed band merchandise. The person who trades in the most recyclables over the weekend receives tickets to the next year’s show.

Collecting More at Marymoor

Washington State’s King County Parks and Recreation Division (Parks) is encouraging people to become volunteer recycling staff at this summer’s concerts at Marymoor Park, part of its commitment to address the environmental impacts of hosting large outdoor events. Volunteers get free entry when they help promote recycling and waste reduction during the June–September shows. The Marymoor Recycling Crew will help concert-goers sort their recyclable and compostable materials, keep the venue free of litter, and otherwise promote recycling and composting. During the 2007 season, Parks diverted 104 cubic yards of material from the landfill—half the waste generated by the shows.

Small-Town Efforts

Even small towns are getting in on the act. In Templeton, CA (population 4,687), the Community Services District recently acquired lightweight, portable recycling bins for its summer concert series and other community events. The bins debuted this June and will collect glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

Rock and Wrap It Up!

Food is also being recycled at summer concerts. An innovative program is the nonprofit Rock and Wrap It Up! (RWU). RWU arranges the collection and donation of leftover food from concerts, sporting events, political rallies, and college and school cafeterias (as a rule, caterers prepare 10 to 15 percent more than they need for events). RWU provides language for clients to include in their contracts or permits requiring that all leftover food be donated to local soup kitchens. At the end of an event, an RWU representative organizes the safe recovery and delivery of all edible leftover food. Since 1990 RWU has secured more than 30 million meals.

Wolf Trap

Green concerts may get a boost this July. Wolf Trap, “America’s only national park for the performing arts,” in Vienna, VA, will host the National Arts and Environment Summit on July 13 and 14. Many of the leading thinkers in the arts, environmental sciences, government, and business will gather at this summit to raise awareness of environmental issues within the performing arts community. The experts will outline strategies and practical solutions for fully engaging performers and venues in environmental stewardship.

Wolf Trap’s connection to the environment is a long and natural one, “celebrating the inspirational relationship between nature and the arts for more than 37 years.” Now, with the “Go Green with Wolf Trap” initiative, the venue is redoubling its recycling efforts at its outdoor Filene Center and indoor The Barns. It has purchased compostable and biodegradable food service items such as cutlery and cups. Wolf Trap continues to purchase green cleaning and restroom supplies, all part of its goal to become “a zero-waste and carbon-neutral organization devoted to an environmentally and socially responsible future.”

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For More Information

EPA’s Recycle on the Go Web site provides tools, information, and success stories to help concert venues establish or enhance recycling programs.
EPA's Food Waste Management Cost Calculator
Learn more about Bonnaroo’s greening activities .
Wolf Trap , the only national park for the performing arts, has a green tradition.
Rock and Wrap It Up! recycles food and fights hunger.
Rockin’ to Fight Hunger: Rock and Wrap It Up! | PDF Version (1 pg, 645K, about PDF) briefly describes the Rock and Wrap It Up program.