After Glastonbury has concluded, the ‘great Glastonbury clean-up’ commences. It involves a stream of people, often volunteers, who enter the site of the famous music festival in a bid to clear up the waste that’s been left behind. However, despite the fact that there are people who are willing to clean it all up, the issue lies with the amount of waste that people produce and leave behind on sacred musical grounds.

It’s not just food wrappers and drink bottles that people are scattering over the countryside. According to one source, this year’s Glastonbury music festival saw discarded gas canisters and “suspicious white powders” left on the fields of Worthy Farm. So how much waste, typically, is produced at a music festival each year and how, exactly, can we combat the amount that’s generated effectively? Let’s take a closer look.

How much waste is left behind after a music festival?

According to Business Waste, of those who attend music festivals, only 30% of them will look to recycle and dispose of their waste responsibly. The same source also states that Glastonbury music festival generates around 2,000 tonnes of waste every single time the event is held. However, if you look at American-based festivals, such as Coachella, around 100 tonnes of solid waste is generated, states the same source.

You might be wondering what type of waste is left behind. Is it food waste, for instance? Business Waste claims that around 90% of the tents that enter the grounds of a music festival aren’t taken away. This means that all of those tents will end up either in landfill or being incinerated, both of which have detrimental effects on the environment. 400 tonnes of food waste is produced and will end up in landfill as well, states the same source.

In fact, when looked upon as a whole, it’s estimated that 68% of the waste left behind at music festivals is sent to landfill. This is down to a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s more cost-effective for festival organisers to dispose of waste in this way. Secondly, much of it cannot be recycled easily, if at all. Where Willshee’s, for instance, is able to collect food waste for recycling in commercial settings, many other Local Authorities and recycling centres will not offer this option.

Commercial waste management at Willshee’s

Despite recycling becoming more prevalent in today’s society, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an easy feat. However, if you choose a commercial waste management company, such as Willshee’s, to collect your waste for you, you can rest assured that it will be recycled wherever possible with our dedicated recycling services and facilities. In fact, Willshee’s are able to recycle a wide range of different waste types and materials, including the following:

Cardboard
Paper
Wood
Hardcore
Concrete
Metals
Plasterboard
Plastics
Green waste
Soil
Residual waste
Textiles
Glass
Food waste

Is enough being done to battle waste management at music festivals?

There are some festivals that are going above and beyond to try and battle the amount of waste that’s produced during the event, and even more is being done to ensure an effective clean-up afterwards. For instance, music festivals, such as Download in Castle Donington, have a system whereby they will either charge a deposit for a cup, and you will only get your money back once the cup has been brought back, or they will pay people a certain amount of money for every cup they bring back to the stand.

This means that people are less likely to leave plastic cups lying around. In addition, Glastonbury banned the sale of single-use plastic drink bottles once they discovered that, in 2017, they had sold more than a million plastic bottles in the time the event ran. You’ll be pleased to know that it doesn’t stop there. Live Nation and 61 members of the UK’s Association of Independent Festivals pledged to ban single-use plastics from their venues altogether, states the BBC. However, replacing single-use cups for reusable alternatives simply isn’t enough to combat the problem.

Many believe that there’s still not enough being done to tackle the issue. But while we should still try to be more responsible when it comes to how we’re clearing waste from music festivals, we need to be getting right down to the underlying cause of the problem, and that’s generating the waste in the first place. The BBC claims that “waste is one of the biggest problems plaguing music festivals”. So what can be done to make sure the problem is nipped in the bud from the outset?

How to reduce the amount of waste you produce at a music festival

If you’re conscious of the environment, think about the changes you can make when you go to a music festival. What can be done to keep your carbon footprint as low as possible once you walk into that field? Don’t worry, you can still have fun and enjoy the show. Just don’t generate copious amounts of non-recyclable waste, but how? Let us explain:

How much waste do people leave behind at music festivals?

Pack smart – bring reusable bottles and food containers, for instance
Use recycling facilities provided – festivals have dedicated recycling bins for certain waste types to be placed in, use them
Be responsible – think of those around you, should they be expected to camp out surrounded by waste material?
Get involved with the clean-up afterwards – festivals are always in need of volunteers
Partake in the reusable cup initiative – if you forget your reusable water bottle, pay a deposit for a reusable cup. You can either keep it or give it back so it can be used again
Don’t forget your tent – do not forget to pack up your tent and bring it home with you. Keep reusing the same one to save some money and the planet
Leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but memories – aim to leave no trace that you were ever there. Don’t leave litter and don’t take wildflowers home, for example. Wildflowers are great for pollinators, insects and the general wildlife

Willshee’s is pleased to provide waste management services to both commercial and domestic customers throughout the Midlands. From collecting waste gathered after a music festival to skip hire for a wealth of projects, Willshee’s can always be counted upon. In addition, you can rest assured that we will always aim to recycle 100% of the waste we receive. You’ll also be given a waste transfer note so that you’ll have peace of mind that your waste has been disposed of responsibly. For further information about our waste management services we have available, including hazardous waste management and more, get in touch with a member of our friendly professional team today – we’re always happy to hear from you.