Glastonbury Urges Festivalgoers to Avoid Single-Use Vapes in Compliance with Environmental Policies
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Glastonbury Festival, one of the most iconic music events in the world, has urged festival-goers not to bring disposable vapes to Worthy Farm this year, as it seeks to align with its environmental policies. The festival has made significant strides to reduce environmental harm to the site, with disposable vapes added to its ‘what not to bring list’, alongside other items such as non-biodegradable body glitter, wipes, and excess packaging.
As attendees of Glastonbury are well aware, the festival follows a ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ policy in an effort to reduce the impact on the environment. Disposable vapes have been singled out as items that can pollute the environment and can be hazardous at waste centres. Industry experts have warned of a ‘dramatic rise’ in fires at recycling plants over the past year, as 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the UK, or two every second.
In an effort to further reduce its impact, Glastonbury has also asked attendees not to bring more than necessary to the festival this year, and to take home anything brought to the site, including tents, gazebos, and excess packaging. In addition, biodegradable wipes have been banned for this year’s event. “Please avoid the use of disposable wipes,” the festival organizers said. “Wipes – even biodegradable wipes, which quickly breakdown into micro-plastics – are problematic environmental pollutants.”
While it may be difficult for attendees to imagine a festival without their disposable wipes and vapes, there are alternative options available that can be just as convenient and less harmful to the environment. Plant fibre-based biodegradable wipes release greenhouse gases when they decompose, so organizers have encouraged people to use alternatives, such as a washcloth and bar of soap.
It is encouraging to see Glastonbury making a concerted effort to reduce the environmental impact of the festival. The issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the music industry as a whole, with many artists taking steps to reduce their own carbon footprint. For example, Coldplay recently announced that they would not be touring until they could find a way to make it carbon-neutral and environmentally sustainable.
Glastonbury’s 51st edition takes place next week, from June 21-25. This year’s headliners include Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses, and Elton John. The festival has revealed its full list of set times and completed line-ups, with many other exciting artists set to perform throughout the weekend.
It is important to support events such as Glastonbury as they seek to minimize their environmental impact. By reducing the use of single-use items, we can all play a part in protecting the environment and ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy these cultural events.
