Garbage

Ieperfest just doesn’t want to throw all the trash in one huge bin, have it collected by the trashmen and let it burn to ashes even if it would be cheaper and way easier for us to do so. No, we want to recycle all the waste and prove that it can be done on festivals too. Yes, you’re right, we set an example for every one out there and that’s why we’re asking you all to help us out and do this the way it should be done. We did it last year and we’re not giving in …

• We’ll separate 5 kinds of trash: glass, paper & cardboard, PMD (Plastic bottles, Metallic cans and Drinking bricks), organic waste & all the other stuff we can’t recycle, like plastic. In Belgium we have a very strict sorting-system. On the festival site you’ll find several ‘trash-islands’. This is an area where you can find a bunch of garbage cans. On every single island, you’ll find 3 different bins. That’s one for organic waste, PMD & not recyclable waste. The explanation and outline of these islands will be marked very clearly on the trash-island itself by graphic signs. If you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask someone else, they might know how the system works. Paper & cardboard you can throw in the big cardboard boxes that you will find in the tent where the bands and some distros will try to sell you all kinds of stuff. We will gather all the glass in special baskets that can be found at the exit and probably on some other places too. Please, if you have trash with you in your car, tent or pocket, bring it with you to the festival site and dump it in the right bin. That’s what they are for!!


• All the drinking cups at the fest are recyclable. You’ll find several grey tubes where you can drop your empty (!) cups. You can’t miss them because there’s ‘CUPS’ written on it and you‘ll find them everywhere around. Please do not drop your cups on the ground! If they are broken: 1) we can’t re-use them, 2) we have to pay a considerable amount for the broken ones and 3) we’re not helping the environment at all. We also kindly ask you not to take the cups outside the festival ground. In case you might find a cup lying around somewhere, please pick it up and deliver it where it belongs. Your splendid example will without any doubt be followed by many others!


• Just like the drinks, our meals will be served on lovely green, hard plastic plates that can be re-used as well. Same rules here, don’t drop them on the ground, don’t take ‘em outside and if you find one, please bring it back to the kitchen where it belongs. Don’t try to cram them in the ‘CUPS’ tubes, please, that’s why we wrote ‘CUPS’ on them and not ‘PLATES’. And what’s more: we don’t even ask any deposit for the use of the cups or plates. We’ll collect & wash them so you can use them again. What a service, what a pleasure, what a festival!


• In order to keep the organic waste as low as can be, we kindly ask you to finish your breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or whatever properly (like we hope you were taught). If you’re really full, give the food to your friend, neighbour, goldfish… You get the point, don’t you? Please don’t throw it away dudes and dudettes !!


• We also ask everyone, men and women, to use the toilets. They will be cleant daily. There really is no need to annoy the plants and grass with your body’s wasted liquids or solids. The festival ground’s smell will surely benefit from it and the chance of pissing on your own shoes will be reduced to almost zero …

However, keeping IF 2006 in mind, the biggest problem seems to be to keep the area around the fest and also the campsite as clean as you’d want your underwear to be. How stupid it is to ‘fest’ on a untainted site if everything around is nasty… Mainly for that reason the owner of the campsite has decided to close the official campsite and build a ‘special campsite for the fest’. We have asked them to work with the same trash strategy we have and we’re pleased they agreed. So, don’t be an ass, all of you are campers/visitors with certain responsibilities, whether you like it or not. All big deeds start very small within yourself… take action and keep it funky over there …! The Ieperfest collective and, even more important, Mother Earth will be so grateful!!