Sustainability continues to be a driving value for Bass Coast Festival and we have a number of new and existing initiatives for you to engage with this year to support our vision for a low-impact festival. Below are seven key tips for supporting sustainability at Bass Coast this year:
Read the seven tips below for simple ways to make your Bass Coast experience more sustainable.
1) Be inspired by this year’s theme.
Our 2024 Bass Coast theme is REFLECTION: REuse, REpurpose, REflect. This year’s theme is all about mindful consumption, and making use of what you already have, rather than buying new. Take inspiration from the ‘buyerachy of needs’ above and consider new and creative ways of expressing yourself through what you wear.
We will have a clothing swap rack at the Eco Hub this year where you can trade clothes - come check it out between 9am-9pm, Friday-Sunday!
2) Drop off your sorted waste/recycling and be in to win!
Keen to win a Bass Coast GA ticket for 2025? Bring the Green Team your sorted waste and recycling on Sunday of the festival and we’ll enter you into the draw for a 2025 ticket! To participate, bring your sorted materials to your campsite recycling depot (marked by the ♻ symbols on the site map) between 3-6pm on Sunday.
We want your clean recyclables (hard plastics and tin cans) and returnables (drink bottles and cans) in clear bags, and your landfill (everything else!) in black bags. We will also have compost bins for your food waste and vendor serviceware. You can find more information about how to sort your recycling on the sustainability section of our website.
3) Use the reusable cups at the bars - or bring your own!
We are partnering with Sharewares this year for the first time to provide reusable cups at our bars. The process to use a Shareware cup is:
- Pay a $1 cup deposit at the bar
- Scan the QR code on the cup with your phone and press "Claim"
- Return the cup to a ShareWares bin to receive a $1 e-Transfer within 14 days
Alternatively, you can bring your own cup to the bar.
4) Use the compost bins.
We are excited to be bringing back a compost collection this year. Look out for the green bins around the food court area and make sure to put all your food waste and vendor serviceware (cups, plates, cutlery, etc) in them. All of the serviceware provided by our vendors and at our bars is compostable - just be sure to empty your cups of any ice before you throw them out. We encourage you to go the extra mile and drop off any food waste from your campsite at the food court bins too!
5) Drop off specialist recycling at the Eco Hub.
‘Specialist’ recycling items are those that can’t go into the main recycling stream, but can still be collected for specialized recycling. You can drop off the below items to the Eco Hub (located in the food vending area):
- Cigarette butts (these can be disposed off into the butt bins at the Eco Hub or at the stages, or into the white butt bins around the festival grounds. You can purchase Pocket Ashtrays from the General Store or keep an eye out for roaming outreach staff.)
- Used vapes
- Used batteries
- Electronic waste
- Empty propane tanks
- Untreated wood
Whippet canisters are not allowed onsite, however if you find any sneaky ones around the festival grounds please bring them to the Eco Hub or Harm Reduction for recycling.
6) Set up your gear correctly - and take it home with you.
Last year our Green Team had to deal with over 85 broken shade structures left onsite. Setting up your gazebos and tents properly will help protect them against the elements, especially the wind. Take the time to secure your camping gear and make sure to take it home with you at the end of the event.
7) Leave no trace.
Leave the Bass Coast site as you found it by respecting the river and keeping your campsite clean. The Coldwater River that runs through the Bass Coast site is a natural salmon spawning site that is incredibly sensitive to human intervention. Please don’t use any soap or wear any sunblock into the water, even biodegradable ones, as they are harmful to the natural environment. Use the showers at Campground B if you need to wash, and dispose of your dishwater a minimum of 200 feet away from the River’s edge, so that chemicals don’t leach in. Please also respect the River’s natural architecture and refrain from building rock beds or sculptures - these will disrupt fish and have to be dismantled by our volunteers. Make sure to check for any MOOP (matter out of place) when you pack up and leave your campsite as sparkling clean as you found it!
If you have any questions on site or notice an overflowing bin, let our Green Team know! You can find volunteers at the Eco Hub or roaming around the ground in their signatures green tees. Last year, you helped us reduce our landfill waste by 12% - we can’t wait to see what you help us achieve this year!
