Although finding the nearest recycling bin may not be your first priority when you’re travelling to your next gig, the impact of touring musicians on the environment can be significant. While some established bands can afford to renounce touring altogether, others are finding ways to offset carbon emissions and minimise waste pollution even as they are driving from one performance to another.
Research shows that even dedicated environmentalists are less likely to recycle when they’re away from home. However, maintaining sustainable routines such as recycling can add structure to your days on tour, while at the same time minimising the environmental footprint you leave behind.
Recycling On The Road
Research published by the European Commission has found that, when they are travelling away from home, every tourist can generate double the amount of waste as a local resident. As a musician on tour, living day to day in a hotel or sleeping in a van, you’re likely to buy a lot more food and drink to go, which tends to come in excessive plastic packaging. Although much of the waste created is recyclable, it can be easy to forget good habits and just throw it in a nearby bin, or even leave it where it’s eaten. By taking the time to find out where the recycling facilities are located at your hotel and picking up your litter after a jamming session on the beach, you can still stick to your recycling commitments and reduce the waste generated by your household – even when you’re on the road.
Going Green At Gigs
An increasing number of artists are announcing their green credentials and taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint at gigs. Some are collaborating with non-profit organisations to promote particular environmental causes, or donating proceeds from their concerts to projects that support sustainability. However, they are also engaging in other simpler sustainable activities that are easy for any musician on the road to emulate. As well as filling your van with biofuel, you can encourage fans to take public transport to your gigs in order to lower the carbon footprint of a tour. Investing in reusable cups and bottles will eliminate plastic waste, while only eating local, seasonal food while you’re travelling from one town to another can help to reduce the environmental impact of food miles on your tour.
Cleaning Up Music Festivals
On a much larger scale than individual gigs, over 20,000 tonnes of waste are produced at UK festivals every year, while the major US music festivals can generate up to 100,000 tonnes of waste on a daily basis. In response to the alarming images of abandoned tents and piles of rubbish at the end of five days of partying, Glastonbury banned single use plastics two years ago, and now several other UK festivals have followed suit. Whether you’re involved with organising an event, taking part as a performer, or simply soaking up the atmosphere as a music fan, you can help to minimise unnecessary waste. By offering reusable or biodegradable bottles and cups, employing armies of litter pickers and ensuring that adequate recycling facilities are available on site, organisers can drastically cut levels of waste, and encourage festival-goers to do the same.
As travel opens up and more musicians are able to perform live again, it’s a good time to reflect on the impact of touring and find ways to minimise waste on the road. Simple steps such as swapping single-use bottles for reusable containers, and encouraging your fans to do the same, can make a significant difference to the amount of waste generated at gigs and festivals.
Courtesy of Sally Writes