BLOG OF iECYCLE

Bass Outdoor Event

If you’ve ever attended an outdoor event or festival (and you’re reading this, now), then the sheer volume of environmental impact such occasions present may very well seem overwhelming (I know that it sometimes does, to me).  To put it plainly, the aftermath is tantamount to a war-zone!

If you’ve never enjoyed such a pleasure, then you might imagine what a single person may consume/discard, in anywhere from a couple hours to a few days. Multiply that by tens (or hundreds) of thousands. Take the resulting product to the exponent of “convenience,” and you might have a point of reference from which to begin.

Thankfully, an organization known as “Clean Vibes” exists.  Their mission, since 1997, has been to offer consultation on, as well as implementation of, waste management practices for the entertainment industry, outdoors.

A relatively small number of full-time managers and staffers oversee numerous volunteers who endeavor (and rather successfully, I should say) to collect, segregate and dispose of organic and inorganic residue; ideally leaving little trace of said event (especially once the local flora and fauna have recovered and returned to the status quo).  Education in myriad supporting concepts is a key component of their service, as well.

In 2009, at the Bonaroo Music and Arts Festival, in Manchester, Tennessee (June 11-14), over 130 tons of waste was recycled, by and large, thanks to Clean Vibes’ efforts.  Almost a quarter of that material was actually composted, onsite!  By weight, 33% of all waste was diverted from landfills (65% by volume!), according to their website.  Results vary by event but, generally, the reduction in impact is equally impressive.

For the volunteers, the rewards include, at a minimum, free admission to the event or festival (plus, circumstances warranting, preferred camping and/or a T-shirt) in exchange for their services in helping maintain and/or prepare the grounds before, during or after the concert(s); or possibly helping out at fixed reclamation centers.  Again, their services vary, as needed, by event.

So, as you enjoy the vibes at whatever large-scale festival you might find yourself in, you may think to notice those who keep them clean and, at the very least, offer thanks that you’re not responsible for the “dirty jobs!”
Peace!