Bonnaroo is a massive, four-day festival in the sweltering Tennessee heat. Swarms of music fans come from all over the country to camp out, jam out and wear all the glow sticks their bodies can hold. People need to stay hydrated in that intense heat, and that usually results in a lot of water bottles in the trash (or all over the ground). Bonnaroo has taken steps to be a little greener by teaming up with Steelys Drinkware and the Plastic Pollution Coalition to make reusable drinkware available in an effort called Refill Revolution.
According to Mother Nature Network, the program’s goal is to reduce plastic waste at Bonnaroo by offering attendees reusable bottles and cups. Water refill stations where people could refill bottles and cups were placed throughout the festival, which saved approximately 400,000 water bottles from being thrown away.
The stainless steel water bottles and plastic cups are available at festival concession stands, and festival officials estimated that this resulted in 30,000 fewer beer cups at last year’s festival.
“This project is a huge step toward furthering our goals as a festival to become as sustainable as possible,” Laura Sohn, sustainability coordinator for Bonnaroo said on the festival’s site. “It empowers and encourages fans to take steps to be part of the festival waste solution.”
For this year’s event, refillable water bottles will be available for $5, and steel cups will be available for $15. Purchase of the steel cup also includes a beer, a carrying strap and a $1 discount on refills. The cups will also be available during ticket presales.
For more information on Refill Revolution, visit www.refillrevolution.com.
