Are Rock Festivals Really Green? VOTE!

Rock festivals are cranking up their green quotient this summer from Bonnaroo to High Sierra Music Festival. But even Bonnaroo, which won the Outstanding Green Festival Award in 2008, left its grounds filled with waste, this past weekend. So how green are rock festivals, really? Here's a list to get you started.

Let us know that you think.

Quick Poll

Are rock festivals really green?

Yes, if they go to the trouble of having compostable everything and staffers to explain.

It's up to the concertgoers.

No, but it's nice that they're trying.

Nope. Not even close.

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San Francisco's Outside Lands: This two-day art and music festival (Dave Matthew's Band, M.I.A, TV on the Radio, etc) is all about going green this year.
In 2008, they collected 8.8 tons of compost and the stage was entirely solar-powered. This year they have an initiative called "Eco Lands - An Interactive
Conservation Happening", a recycling store, bicycle valet, a solar stage, solar cell phone charging stations and more.

Chicago's Lollapalooza: One of the biggest music festivals this summer, Lollapalooza will contribute all its money to the Parkways Foundation that works to help Chicago's public spaces. They're running biodiesel fuel in the generators and light towers on festival grounds, displacing 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel -- significantly reducing carbon monoxide. Also, they're promised biodegradable, compostable or recyclable beer cups, water bottles, food containers and utensils to start with.

Michigan's Rothbury Festival: Rothbury, which calls itself a "Sustainable Camping Festival Revolution Celebrating Music, Art and Action" will have a think tank on board to share ideas about greening, workshops that talk about green work opportunities and green businesses, a waste reclamation compound and more.

Hawaii's BuFest: According to their website, BuFest strives to insure zero impact upon the environment. In addition to biodegradable and recycled supplies, BuFest will use technologically advanced generators and materials to make certain we have the lowest carbon output possible.

Wakarusa: The good people over at Wakarusa actually start their green efforts before festival goers are even through the door. At the door, they provide everyone with bags for recyclables and trash. They also encourage BYOB canned beverages and use clean fuel. Menus include tons of vegetarian food options and composting is available.

Comments

[goodscarrier]

Bless your heart for asking this important question,

If you ask the high-paid officials of SF's Rec and Park Dept and/or Another Planet Entertainment, you will get a big smile and a resounding yes.

But if you ask the people who regularly use and/or maintain Golden Gate Park your question will be met with Bronx Cheers, hearty laughter, and rolling eyes.

Outside Lands is **destroying** much of Golden Gate Park. E.g. much of Speedway Meadows was destroyed last year and it was never reclaimed.

The park was never designed to handle the multi-ton equipment used in order to set up for the concert. In fact, the public is not even allowed to drive on the grasses, etc. to prevent damage to the flora, whereas Another Planet uses HEAVY equipment which ruins the root structures of trees, bushes, grasses, etc.

Plus, Outside Lands is about the closing of public property for the benefit of a private developer. Like last year and on through 2013, the promoter gets 12 days of exclusive access to about one third of the park. That means a private entity is kicking its owners out so that it can generate a profit.

Outside Lands is HORRIBLE!!

[JacktheEcoManiac]

A lot of these festivals are partnering with organizations such as www.greenhome.com to purchase environmentally friendly and compostable products for festival food and drink service. Some of them are really great at providing festival goers the opportunity to recycle and compost -- it has a lot to do with signage as well, like whether or not the attendees are aware that the stuff they are buying is coming on a compostable plate and is being eaten with compostable cutlery. That is totally key! If you are having an event this summer, here's a great guide on how to make it green, including pdfs of free signs: http://www.greenhome.com/events/

[Mnemanth]

As green as we spin it to be!!

[Ariadne]

Telluride Bluegrass festival does a good job.