A Critical Study of Sustainable Waste and Transport Management at UK Festivals

Abstract

The purpose of the dissertation was to critically analyse the current waste and transport techniques found at UK festivals, and discuss how these sustainability standards can be improved.
The research methods included looking at UK festivals' websites to see what sustainability techniques they say they implement. Surveys were shared amongst past festival attendees who completed their surveys on a specific festival. The results from the surveys were then tabulated and put into sections of current sustainability practices, the public opinion on how well such practices are implemented, and the public opinions on how well additional sustainability techniques could work.
The key findings from this research are that major festivals have the most waste and transport techniques on offer, but medium festivals implement their techniques the best. With regards to small festivals, their level of sustainability very much depends on the type of festival they're going for. In general, the festivals that are deemed as 'hippy' or that obviously focus on being green fared the best and provided the best levels of sustainability. The best idea for waste management was reduced fees for stalls providing biodegradable/reusable bags and/or cutlery. The best transport management idea was creating an incentive for carpooling.