GrassRoots has always been proud of the fact that we compost. Many major festivals don't even offer recycling facilities, so the fact that we offset over 10,000 lbs. of waste last year by turning it back into dirt makes us feel pretty good. Last year was the first year that our hospitality barn (where we feed performers and staff) became a waste-free facility - all utensils and tableware were compostable, and everything else was recyclable - and this year, we're turning the dial all the way to eleven.
Food vendors will be serving up your delicious treats on the same sort of compostable tableware that we've been using backstage, so no matter what meal you purchase, you'll be able to compost all of your scraps afterward. We're giving you a heads-up on this now, and we'll remind you again later, because if this is your first experience with compostable flatware and cups, you might find it a little strange. Yes, that fork DOES look like it's plastic, but it's actually made out of corn starch, and you can go ahead and throw it in the blue bin. We also want you to keep this in mind when you're making your packing decisions. Yes, it's convenient to bring a big ol' sleeve of plastic cups for your campsite margaritas, but if you bring reusable cups (or even compostable ones - you actually can find them in some better-stocked organic grocery stores), you'll be part of the solution.
Festivals can be terrifying feats of excess, leaving giant piles of useless garbage in their wake, but they don't have to be. We can do our part to keep our footprint closer to neutral. Need a little inspiration? Check out this cool video that our Master Composters put together after last year's event:
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8 comments:
Do you have any info on the schedule will be released?
I'm curious about that myself. We're only 3 months away. Surely, you guys must have some idea of who's going to play?
I see some bands like Synthian have listed the days they are playing so how about a partial list of who's coming so far?
The complete band list will be posted on May 1, give or take one or two days, like it always has been. We can't announce the list until all contracts have been signed and confirmations are received, and we're in the final stages of that process. Make sure you sign up for our mailing list; we'll shoot out an email as soon as we've got the whole shebang.
I'm so glad you are doing this! Every time I come back to the US, I feel ashamed of all the waste I create. We come to Grassroots as a break from Haiti, and I am grateful that our vacation won't create a lot of trash this year! Thanks!
Wonderful:]
can we add the budos band to this list
What kind of plastic/who manufactures these "compostable" plastic utensils? Most "compostable" plastics found commonly right now are made of PLA (polylactic acid), which in the US is derived from corn starch. Yes it is "compostable," but that does not mean it can just be thrown in a typical compost pile. It has to be sent back to an industrial composting facility-where it is exposed to high levels of heat and moisture, which then break it down. If thrown in the compost, it will NOT biodegrade, and ultimately will end up being unchanged plastic in your compost, which will take the same time as conventional plastic to biodegrade-in the range of hundreds of years depending on thickness. This PLA material is also not suitable for recycling, as it contaminates the PET, other conventional recycling streams,etc. If you are using "compostable" PLA products, it is critical that they are kept separate and sent back to a facility where they can be properly composted-otherwise you're just throwing trash in your compost.
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