CAG bins available for use - the BunkFest story
This is a great success story - the CAG project has helped and supported the ideas of a community who wanted to make a real difference to the waste in their area. The 77% recycling rate achieved by SusWal and Brian Landowski at the 2006 BunkFest folk festival, not to mention the great opportunity for education and involvement, has demonstrated what a great impact people can have when working together on a problem.
Due to the weather conditions in 2007 the Bunkfest was cancelled, however Sustainable Wallingford volunteers helped with emptying the recycling bins at this years Wallingford Bunkfest. A significant part of the waste from the public bins was collected for recycling. It was noticeable that the traders selling food were using much less plastic than in previous years.
The bins were originally obtained for the 2006 Bunkfest by the efforts of Brian Landowksi, a local resident of Wallingford, who considered that the issue of waste at the festival should be more positively tackled. Brian approached the local Community Action Group Sustainable Wallingford waste team (SusWal) and got involved in the group. SusWal approached the CAG project and asked for support with the idea to provide recycling at the BunkFest this year.
The CAG project worked with Brian and the SusWal volunteers to secure funding for bins from Oxfordshire County Council and worked with Brian to get signs and information boards made up. This equipment is available for use at other events.
Morris Dancer uses CAG bins
Three recycling stations were set up around the festival site with green wheelie bins for recyclable waste - separate bins for: plastic, cans, paper and cardboard, - bottle banks were provided for used glass and black wheelie bins for landfill waste.
Brian and the SusWal volunteers worked out a rota for the weekend to empty the three recycling stations and collect waste from around the festival. Bins were emptied every hour or two, clear plastic bags were used for the recyclable waste so that volunteers could tell if there were things in the bins that shouldn't be there. They also worked with local scout groups to collect litter and bring it to the recycling stations.
Brian Landowski, Bunkfest recycling scheme coordinator said: "I really think the message got across. The advertising campaign and the whole way we approached it worked. I think a lot of people took it on board; I had some amazing reactions from people.
"Kids were collecting cans to crush and really wanting to take part. I think it's just amazing.
I'm really impressed by the amount of waste collected for recycling and the number of people who used the bins.
"It just goes to show people can recycle well if they're given the right facilities.
Following the success of this scheme, Oxfordshire County Council and the Community Action Group project are looking to find other festivals and volunteers who would like to use the bins and the signs used by SusWal for festivals around the County.
If you would like to use the bins for your festival, please get in touch with the CAG project
For Further information:
Contact the CAG Project Manager
Email Simon Kenton