A recent r/bonnaroo discussion lit up with urgent calls for attendees to seriously reduce waste at this year’s festival to preserve the grounds and environment. While the alarming image of trash strewn about wasn’t from Bonnaroo, it starkly illustrates the consequences of neglecting responsible waste habits.
Key Takeaways From the Community:
- Bring Reusables: Swap out single-use plastics like cups, straws, and utensils for reusable versions to slash waste volume.
- Ditch Non-Biodegradables: Avoid confetti, glowsticks, and other items that don’t break down naturally.
- Pack Out Smartly: Campers should bundle trash and cardboard beside service roads on departure to streamline volunteer cleanup efforts.
- Rethink Gifting Culture: Scale back on trinkets and packaging; unbox gear ahead of time to limit trash load.
- Help Out for Rewards: Some attendees suggested incentive schemes where trash pick-up earns perks, a program effective at other festivals.
- Gear Donations: The community asked if Bonnaroo could formalize donating unused camping gear left behind, a practice that reduces waste and supports charity elsewhere.
Bonnaroo’s Existing Green Efforts:
- Composting: Past festivals have composted 180+ tons of food waste and packaging.
- Recycling: Extensive programs divert massive waste from landfills.
- Solar Power: They’ve introduced solar-powered stages to cut carbon emissions.
- Water Stations: Free water refill spots promote ditching disposable bottles.
- Gear Sales: While not official Bonnaroo policy, local groups run annual resale events for gear left behind, fueling environmental projects.
Takeaway:
This r/bonnaroo dialogue is a wake-up call for every visitor: your actions at Bonnaroo can either protect or harm the festival’s precious environment. Paired with existing sustainability initiatives, enhanced attendee responsibility can make the magic last for many festivals to come.
Source: r/bonnaroo