Idea to reduce waste

[Ian_Mackay]

Let's say we limit it to 150 people as a test group (and to lessen exclusivity fears), volunteers would have to register during the festival at the info tent (allow 200 places and assume 1/4 won't turn up - adjust according to weather predictions)

Take a team of 15 full time staff, the guys who do the normal litter picking, and allocate them 10 people each as a team. They govern that team and decide whether people are working hard enough, their decision final. If someone is slacking, they say thanks, but goodbye, no early bird ticket for you.

Each team takes a camping field. each field has a designated "recycling" spot where all useful stuff is deposited for collection.

Grab a farm tractor, trailer, and a few more volunteers, and get it to do the rounds from each recycling spot to the main storage area.

At the end of the allotted time, note down each volunteer's booking number (everyone should be keeping their ticket so should know this - or name and address if they don't).

Come booking time, the ticket site sells 150 tickets only to those who are on this list.

The collected stuff gets stored till the next festival, where Glastonbury opens up its version of a second hand bricabrac store, all items a pound (or similar). Proceeds go to tractor petrol costs and possible cost of the ticketing site for creating a pre-sale option.

Now, say in the time the average volunteer salvages 50 items, that's 50*150= 7,500 items =£7,500 - more than enough to cover costs (assuming everything gets sold, admittedly!) - if you sold higher value items for more than a pound, you could make even more..

Not approached the office yet - wanted to kick the tires and see if there was anything obvious being missed!

There is the potential that some people might think it's ok to leave their stuff behind because of this, but if the recycling points were set up for each field at an appropriate time, maybe some of these people would drop the stuff they can't be bothered to take to the car at these spots?

Edited July 14, 2011 by Ian_Mackay

[rachmac]

But what happens if:

Your registration number ends that year (as mine does in 2013)?

You move house?

You get married and change your name?

[Rufus Gwertigan]

FFS, I get it, I know people who work there - I used "free" purely in the monetary meaning of the word.. no-one denies they work damn hard.. now take the chip off your shoulder and let's move on.. Can we have at least one thread that stays on target?!

[abdoujaparov]

sorry, it's a daft idea...the problem isnt clearing the shit up, it's the amount of stuff that people throw away in the first place. You're addressing the wrong end of the problem and in a way which would, in all probability, encourage people to chuck away even more shit - "it doesnt matter cos someone will get a free ticket for picking it up...."

[chris northwest]

But what happens if:

Your registration number ends that year (as mine does in 2013)?

You move house?

You get married and change your name?

[NeilVJ]

Ok, so instead of that idea how about the 10p per pint off if you recycle your cup. I can't for the life of me see why they don't do this

[grumpyhack]

I'm horrified by the amount of rubbish and filth that gets left behind and wonder what sort of homes some of the people who leave all the crap live in.

I can't see a way of working it, though maybe someone else can, but I'd like to see some sort of 'reward' for people leaving their patch clean and tidy. I'm not looking for a reward myself but we always do a fingertip check of our patch to make sure absolutely nothing is left.

[chris northwest]

sorry, it's a daft idea...the problem isnt clearing the shit up, it's the amount of stuff that people throw away in the first place. You're addressing the wrong end of the problem and in a way which would, in all probability, encourage people to chuck away even more shit - "it doesnt matter cos someone will get a free ticket for picking it up...."

[chris northwest]

I'm horrified by the amount of rubbish and filth that gets left behind and wonder what sort of homes some of the people who leave all the crap live in.

I can't see a way of working it, though maybe someone else can, but I'd like to see some sort of 'reward' for people leaving their patch clean and tidy. I'm not looking for a reward myself but we always do a fingertip check of our patch to make sure absolutely nothing is left.

[chris northwest]

Ok, so instead of that idea how about the 10p per pint off if you recycle your cup. I can't for the life of me see why they don't do this

[neilloggie]

Ok, so instead of that idea how about the 10p per pint off if you recycle your cup. I can't for the life of me see why they don't do this

[DJL]

If something like this hasn't been trialled then it should be. Central recycling points where you pick up clear colour coded bin liners different from those elsewhere fill them up and return to get uniquely numbered vouchers after a v quick inspection they were sorted into papers/cans etc If you have enough (and you would need a lot) you can cash these in on-site to pre-register for the next year using your current ticket. You then complete registration (and pay a deposit) after the fest.

You'd get some people emptying the existing bins rather than picking up off the floor but they would need to do some sorting for recycling and at least this might prevent them all over flowing by sunday anyway. Make clear beforehand how strict the rules are on this and enforce them - chancers who aren't willing to sort recycling will give up after their first refusal. Those of us (and I still believe there are a lot) who are passionate about the leave no trace and REALLY want to attend next year will do it.

I just think there needs to a level by which people can volunteer without having to give up a full 24 hours of their fest. A few hours taken when you choose in return for guaranteed registration for a full price ticket next year seems fair...

If a few thousand people return the following the following year via this system word will get around and this number may grow - I don't think this would ever in danger ticket sales from new festival go-ers. ME may not agree but this way of earned privilege is much fairer than the present ticket lottery which ensures different people to go each year (whilst many miss out) but with less connection and understanding of the festival - hence why they're willing to leave their rubbish behind! A few hours cleaning up is much more productive than a few hours on the phone for tickets! Those who haven't attended before always have the option of working or more active volunteering for their ticket, a point that should be enforced immediately after tickets sell out.

[geebus]

The current system seems to work well enough?

The farm gets cleared pretty quickly.

The people that are employed I presume are generally listed as 'crew', so don't come out of the licensed allowance of people.

I hope by 2013 I'll be in a situation I can reasonably go and scavenge for stuff myself without the need to worry about being back for work the next day (got back near midnight this year as now in the North and being self employed with stuff going wrong while I was away meant no chance I could leave it any further ).

[LondonTom]

they live in spotless homes mate!

because mummy and daddy are ther to clean up after them.

[ukslim]

There is a fest called Burning Man in the USA and they leave no trace, but in saying that they pay for water etc.

[YetAnotherOldHippy]

Instead of a priority ticket for the following festival, how about a tie-on thing to go on your tent giving you right to stay until Tuesday (and maybe an evening meal) if you're willing to help clear up the field you camp in?

If only somebody would invent sarcasm, I could have a lovely weekend impressing messy neighbours. I'd even be willing to store and hand out rubbish and recycling bags if it meant extending my stay by 24 hours.