Your participation made 2024 the most sustainable Bass Coast yet. Here are the sustainability highlights from our 16th edition and ways you can help us create a greener festival next year.
Thanks to reusable cups, better composting, recycling, and an expanded Green Team, Bass Coast reduced landfill waste by another 8% from 2023. To help us go further next year:
- Bring only what you need and leave unnecessary packaging at home.
- Sort waste properly: black bags for garbage, clear for recycling and returnables, and use compost bins.
- Pack out as much as you can and dispose of it responsibly at home or your local eco depot. More tips are on our sustainability page.
Reusable Bar Cups
This year, we partnered with ShareWares to introduce reusable cups at our bars, saving over 7,000 disposable cups. We achieved a 92% return rate and aim for 100% next year. You can help by dropping your ShareWares cups into the white bins at the bars, Eco Hub, or with a Green Team volunteer anytime, even if you take one to the dance floor or your campsite.
Composting
This year, we increased compost diversion by 34%, sending three tonnes to the Stswékstem facility in Kamloops. Help us continue by using the green bins for food waste and vendor serviceware around the festival, including separating campsite food waste into a bucket or sturdy bag and dropping it off at a green bin or the Eco Hub.
Increased Recycling
We increased cardboard recycling by 61%—nearly one tonne more than 2023—and returnable bottle and can recycling by 3%, with profits donated to local charities. The cardboard rise came largely from boxes left at campsites. To help next year, please unpack and recycle your cardboard at home.
Special Recycling
This year, our Green Team doubled special recycling drop-offs to Merritt’s Eco Depot, collecting items like cigarettes, propane tanks, vapes, scrap metal, batteries, and e-waste. We can improve on this next year by
- Using Pocket Ashtrays and Butt Cans to dispose of cigggarette butts. These are toxic and pose a wildfire risk.
- Leaving nitrous canisters, which are banned, at home.
- If your shade structure breaks, please bring it home and recycled it locally, unless they're too damaged to fit in your vehicle.
If you have any questions or suggestions for how we can improve sustainability, please reach out to basscoastgreenteam@gmail.com.
