The North’s premier multi-day music festival is close to abolishing all single-use plastic from its event.
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At the 2019 Party in the Paddock, organisers have focused on how to reduce waste.
Festival director Jesse Higgs said organisers aimed to up the ante on recycling at the 2018 event.
“Last year was huge for us with what we did with recycling. But we’re on a mission to abolish single-use plastic at the festival,” he said.
“We have no single-use plastic bottles available at the festival. It’s bring your own bottle. We will also be providing patrons with a limited number of Real Mates Don’t Let Mates Drink and Drive bottles. And we have Party in the Paddock merchandise bottles, too.”
The site will also provide reusable cups, after still offering plastic cups at the 2018 event.
Mr Higgs hopes incentives, such as recycling for paddock cash, will also encourage people to do the right thing. People will be able to trade their recycling for paddock cash or merchandise.
“We just want to encourage everybody to pick up after themselves and no littering,” he said.
“It’s working farm land, so it’s really important that we return the beautiful paddocks back to how we found them.”
The festival also has an issue with people leaving their tents and equipment at the festival.
“As a culture, and as a generation, we really need to be accountable for leaving rubbish behind. We wouldn’t go to our friend’s house and throw stuff on the floor and leave it there,” Mr Higgs said.
“There is a real culture there that needs to change and people need to be accountable for that.”
Festival goers are also able to car pool to the festival and catch buses.
All food vendors have also come on board to supply biodegradable cutlery and plates.