Music festivals are experiencing a significant problem with abandoned camping gear, contributing substantially to event waste. At the Beyond The Valley festival, attendees observed numerous discarded tents and camping items, an issue many online commenters reported as common.
Scale of the Problem
Berish Bilander, chief executive of Green Music Australia, stated that over half of the waste from these events originates from campsites, primarily from inexpensive camping equipment. Research conducted by Green Music Australia indicates that one in every three tents brought to a music festival is subsequently left behind.
Joshua Davies of B-Alternative, an organization operating at the Lost Paradise festival, characterized this trend as a growing culture of consumerism, where low-cost items are purchased with the expectation of single-use.
Potential Solutions
Initiatives have been suggested to address this issue:
- Pre-made tent villages: These aim to reduce the need for patrons to bring their own camping equipment.
- Cultural shift: Encouraging festival-goers to take responsibility for their waste and hold each other accountable.
- Onsite repair facilities: B-Alternative established a repair facility at Lost Paradise to mend tents and other equipment, facilitating conversations about the 'leave no trace' principle.
Following the Lost Paradise event, B-Alternative collected abandoned camping gear and distributed it to local charities, op shops, and individuals experiencing homelessness. Davies emphasized the need for a broader cultural change and for festival organizers to transparently display the environmental impact of discarded items to patrons.