Green
A Greener Festival
In the year 2012, green entrepreneurship has become self-evident. To organise a one-day or a several-day festival has an inevitable impact on the environment. So it goes. On a brighter note, this impact can be kept under control or even be reduced. Rock Werchter, TW Classic and Werchter Boutique really want to put this goal into practice. This already resulted in a Green ‘n Clean Award, an award for environment-friendly festivals, courtesy of Yourope, the European festival association. This year, we have decided to further increase our impact-reducing efforts. Green entrepreneurship really works. Green festivals are possible.
Mobility
Nowadays, the festivalgoer almost takes it for granted. Public transport to and from Rock Werchter is included in the festival ticket thanks to good partnership with the NMBS and De Lijn. In this way, Rock Werchter encourages festivalgoers to leave the car at home and head for the festival grounds by train or bus. In the case of the one-day festival, TW Classic, a ‘B-Excursion’ ticket is available at a very reasonable price. A minor yet significant detail: De Lijn will use buses fitted with diesel particulate filters: another boost for greener travel to Rock Werchter. The cycling festivalgoer is also well looked after. There are three bicycle parking areas. You will find one next to each entry zone, free and supervised. We are grateful to KBC and their Argus environmental centre.
Getting rid of the refuse mountain
This is an area of some importance. How do you keep the mountain of refuse that accompanies a festival under control? Better still, how can it be reduced? Intensive sorting takes place at the festival site and the campsites. This requires a little effort. However, a little effort is rewarded if you collect 20 plastic beakers or PET bottles on or around the site. For years, doing so has earned the festivalgoer a free drink token. This is a proven and successful recipe. The beakers and bottles which are collected are used as raw materials for more beakers and bottles. PET is also used to produce polyester textile fibres which are used to make things like fleece clothing, garden furniture and rugs. Even more sorting and recycling takes places at the Werchter festival grounds.
Alpheios is an expert when it comes to cleaning, and a loyal, green partner of the festival! They supply ecological cleaning and washing products. The many litres of wastewater produced by the festival, are way more harmless for the environment, as the used products are biologically degradable.
To our waste partner, Sita, refuse is a resource rather than a useless mass. The container park at the festival which is situated backstage, contributes to the improved collection and processing. Every stand is informed of the appropriate guidelines. Eco teams from Bevers Catering clear up any refuse that is still left on the site. After all, everything is simply more fun on a tidy festival ground.
Also we no longer issue a paper programme booklet at the entrance. The Rock Werchter Mobile Application presented by Proximus, which can be downloaded free and is available for most mobile phones, is an excellent, green alternative.