2011 GREEN FACTS
BONNAROO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Continued the festival’s long-term commitment to the environment by having a year-round Sustainability coordinator on staff. Developed a Sustainability one-sheet for each department as a guide to reduce the festival’s overall carbon footprint. Included a Greening Handbook as part of the employee manual includes: festival Purchasing Policies and greening tips for staff. Distributed via email to ALL festival staff encouraging Bonnaroo staff to make the most sustainable choices from their travel to the festival, to what they purchase while in Manchester, to how they treat the site.
Incorporated the festival’s environmental mission statement in ALL sponsorship agreements and vendor contracts. Working to further the festival’s ripple effect through our partnerships with vendors and sponsors.
Implemented a required Greening Fee for certain aspects of on site operations. Green service pod for fans where they can get additional information about green efforts, recycling, composting, etc. It continues the discussion away from the main festival venue and Planet Roo.
Continued to build our team of Green Ambassadors. These Ambassadors are the liaisons between the festival, our non-profit partners, and the fans. They are trained to communicate to patrons about the festival’s sustainability work, answer any green related questions, and communicate information about the work our non-profit partners.
Continue our year round education with the Carbon Shredders. Partners this year are Urban Land Scouts, CREx, Gardener's Supply and Green Mountain Coffee!
Will continue to expand composting collection. Will increase the number of manned stations and the number of volunteers throughout the site to encourage fans to put their compostable materials in the correct collection area. Last year these efforts were successful and we collected 3 times the compost.
PRODUCT CONSUMPTION:
Concession food served with biodegradable wraps, plates, cups and cutlery manufactured from corn. This waste is composted along with food waste, diverting over 30 tons of waste from the landfill and stays on-site in our compost pile.
Bonnaroo typically recycles 3 tons of PET bottles per event. While we are proud of our high capture and recycle rate, the truth is that bottled water, even when recycled, still generates a lot of pollution and waste. Throughout the concert site, Bonnaroo will have multiple FREE water stations, flowing with fresh, clean drinking water.
Presenting organic cotton t-shirts for selected merch items. While organic cotton is more expensive is a sustainable product and supports eco-friendly farming practices.
Portolets are all stocked with recycled toilet paper and toilet seat covers. Using recycled paper for all of the program and administrative needs Use of VOC-free paint where possible. We also purchase as much recycled paint and mis-tints as possible to use on-site. This replaces the purchase of hundreds of gallons of brand new latex paint. All lumber used on-site is logged and milled locally. This support of local business is a key part of Bonnaroo’s environmental mission statement to have a sustainable relationship with the community in which we work. All of the hay for security horses is purchased from local farmers. This support of the local farmers as become an integral part of the festivals relationship with the community. Horse manure is donated back to local farmers. The manure is used in the growing of local crops. This is an example of the festival’s ripple effect; the use of manure produced at the festival in the local food cycle reduces the farmers’ carbon footprints. Provide information for our vendors to source their produce and meat from local farmers. An encouragement to our vendors to reduce their carbon footprint and support local economies.
Implemented a back stage water station for staff. All staff had water bottles and there were bubblers outside of offices in an effort to reduce bottled water. Wherever possible in backstage decoration we use fabric that can be used over and over again as opposed to one off materials or plastics. 70% of tent decorations are reusable linens.
Recycle or re-use 100% of the all petroleum based products used to decorate around the festival site. 50% of the furniture on-site is purchased from hotel liquidators and re-used each year. Source as many decoration materials, from carpets to mirrors to furniture, as possible from second hand or used sources as possible such as Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Leftover food donated to regional food pantries. One of the catering operations onsite was over 70% organic and at least 20% of the organics were sourced locally.
WASTE MANAGEMENT:
As you all know Bonnaroo takes it’s recycling and composting very seriously. The amazing Clean Vibes team tallied all the 2010 numbers and we diverted more waste from the landfill than ever before.
Here are the numbers:
101 tons of commingled recycling
23 tons of cardboard
21 tons of scrap metal
45 tons compostable material
5 tons of cooking oil
All together 60% of all waste by volume was diverted from landfills!
ENERGY CONSUMPTION:
- In 2010 the festival offset 900 metric tons of CO2
- For 2011 we are recalculating our Carbon Footpring
- In 2009 the festival tied into the Tennessee Valley Authority electrical grid. This will reduce the use of generators on-site by 70%.
- For the third year in a row, a number of electric golf carts will be incorporated into the festival golf cart pool.
- By using a golf cart pool system the festival reduces the number of golf carts by 25% annually.
- 90 security horses are used on-site, replacing 12 security vehicles will continue to incorporate a number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles into the festival rental transportation fleet.
GREENING VILLAGE/PLANET ROO:
The culmination of the festival’s environmental mission statement while on site is Planet Roo an eco and social activism village dedicated promoting socially responsible lifestyles. The performance stage here is powered by solar panels.
Within Planet Roo you’ll find our:
- Waste Free Café
- Our non profit partners
- Social change documentary cinema tent
- A silent auction with funds going to a number of worthy charitable causes
- The Academy which features lectures, art projects, etc. and is a great place to learn about what you can do through art
- Social Change Through Music panels another way to learn about what the musicians who are performing at Bonnaroo do to effect change through their music.
crackcrackcrackcrack