Greening Glastonbury

With 150,000 tickets issued for the event June 23-27, it is nearly the size of the population of Swindon, England. The rubbish and potential pollution produced by such a huge number of people is an annual issue for the festival organisers and the Environment Agency.

Food waste will be collected for composting and there will be improved recycling facilities for glass and metal. Recycled materials will be removed during the popular festival to reduce build-up. Traders are only allowed to use compostable plates and cutlery.

Festival organisers will place 11,000 recycling containers around the site and will issue recycling and waste bags to revellers on their arrival at Glastonbury. A 10 pence donation is to be made to WaterAid for every pint cup placed in recycling bins, while litter-picking staff will also be aiming to recycle materials.

The 32 percent target represents the level of recycling that was achieved at the 2004 Glastonbury Festival – at the time smashing the 16 percent target that had been set.

Last year, working with consultants Network Recycling and sponsors Budweiser, the festival recycled 10 metric tons of glass, 27 metric tons of cans and plastic, 13 metric tons of card and 100 metric tons of compostable waste. About 480 metric tons of waste was collected overall.

Jim Gorczyca, Budweiser's UK marketing director said: "Budweiser is proud to continue its support of Glastonbury's recycling campaign. Given this year's increased recycling target, it's more important than ever that everyone who comes along to the Festival does their bit to help safeguard the environment."

Environment Agency officer Dave Sharp said: "The capacity of the event to pollute the very countryside it celebrates is a serious one. We are pleased with the way things went last year and will continue to work with the organisers this year." - Let's Recycle