Falls Festival, Lost Paradise and more Aussie festivals combine to address campground waste
A slew of prominent Australian music festivals have united to with Green Music Australia to combat the issue of festival campground waste.
Green Music Australia and Music Victoria recently met with reps from Falls Festival, Lost Paradise, Unify Festival, Party in the Paddock, Rabbits Eat Lettuce, Strawberry Fields and more to come up with innovative solutions to the growing problem.
The summer festival season just gone saw an increase in campgrounds left full of waste and rubbish after events wrap-up, with the waste often damaging precious natural environments.
Ideas submitted include having festival-goers take a “leave no trace” pledge at ticket purchase. Other initiatives proposed include banning single-use plastic, and sharing photo evidence of effective waste disposal.
The meeting came shortly after more than 60 independent music festivals across the UK committed to going plastic free by 2021.
“Team Finely Tuned, the organisers of Lost Paradise and the entire extended Lost Paradise family are excited and fully committed to collaboratively identifying and implementing solutions to encourage and assist festival attendees to evaluate and tailor what they bring to the many beautiful festival sites Australia-wide (and beyond!),” said founder and director of Finely Tuned Simon Beckingham.
“Particularly in today’s perceived ‘throwaway culture’ its disheartening to witness tent and shade infrastructures left behind, non eco-friendly glitter blocking water supplies and escaping into the eco-system… And as for single use plastic bottles, GRRRRR – lets collectively reduce landfill!”
“To ensure music festivals can continue to use magical locations like the Grampians, it’s imperative that we work proactively on ways to minimise our waste footprint,” added Grampions Music Festival’s Carly Flecknoe.
“We are so excited to be part of some awesome festivals who are working at grass roots levels to address this issue and share their ideas.”
“A shift in the collective consciousness of today’s throw away society is crucial if we wish to ensure a future for this planet. Music and Art festivals provide the perfect platform to instil this behavioural and attitude change we want to see in the world,” said Rabbits Eat Lettuce’s Erik Lamar.
“It is reassuring to see so many festivals from around the country motivated to achieving the same environmental goals.
“The collaborative approach will accelerate progress in the area. With the right intention and thoughtful action anything is possible.”
Following the meeting, Green Music Australia has invited other interested Australian festivals to join the cause.
For more information head to Green Music Australia’s official website.