Composting Initiatives for Music Festival Organisers.

Music festival organisers now consider composting initiatives as a key element in their sustainability objectives. The volumes of organic waste generated by a large-scale multi-day festival are significant so treating its disposal in an environmentally friendly way is essential. What compostable initiatives are organisers using to enhance their sustainability credentials.

Festival organisers can meet a number of sustainability objectives by using composting initiatives and these can include meeting environmental regulations plus improving sponsor and festival-goer perception of being a ‘green’ festival. Whilst compostable dry toilets have been around for some time at music festivals there are other aspects that can be included in an overall composting objective. 

Sustainability and Composting. 
Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter like food scraps, biodegradable products into nutrient-rich soil (compost) and is a crucial component of sustainable waste management. Compost helps to improve soil structure, water retention and microbial life. A typical music festival can generate tons of organic waste (leftover food, paper plates, tissues, and even biodegradable packaging) which has traditionally been sent to landfill. Composting initiatives can lower the event’s overall carbon footprint and organisers can produce annual reports that show the percentage of waste diverted from landfill and the volume of compost generated. 

Vendor Organic Waste. 
It's not unusual for the majority of organic waste to be generated by food and beverage vendors at a music festival. Organisers can issue strict mandates regarding use of biodegradable packaging like plates, cups, cutlery, and straws made from cornstarch, PLA (polylactic acid), bagasse (sugarcane), or bamboo. Specifications can form part of vendor agreements and contracts, and organiser’s staff may conduct random inspections to ensure compliance. In some cases, it may be possible to demand evidence of compostable certification (European standard EN13432 or American standard ASTM D6400). 

Compostable Toilet Facilities. 
The legendary dry compost toilets used on festival sites for many years are the dread of many festival-goers, mainly due to offensive odors. The compost toilet uses biological processes (aerobic decomposition) to break down human waste into compost, without the use of water or chemicals. Compost toilets require users to add sawdust, coconut husk, or woodchips after use to operate correctly and reduce odors. These types of toilets require less maintenance, emptying and cleaning than a traditional portable chemical toilet. The management of the compost dry toilet has improved in recent years reducing foul odors which is almost impossible with a portable chemical toilet. 

Composting Initiatives. 
Implementing waste sorting bins for festival-goers can help to pre-sort materials suitable for composting. Good signage which provides instructions for use can help festival-goers use the correct bins. Organisers can partner with a composting specialist organisation to set up composting facilities on a festival site which may include on-site aerobic composting units or worm farms (vermicomposting). Selecting a waste management contractor which is experienced in composting is a key part of any composting initiative. In addition, organisers should run communication campaigns for all festival-goers on composting etiquette whilst on the festival site. 

For festival organisers planning their next event using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, site planning, cashless payments and contactless ordering. 

Image by aitoff via Pixabay

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