Ecologically sustainable societies are steady state, zero-growth systems using renewable energy, practicing recycling and with a high degree of local self-sufficiency, and community values would be encouraged to flourish in place of the religions of consumerism and materialism.

Source: Earth Council Embassy

UNITY’s 2011 -  ’50% Landfill Diversion Challenge’

The 2010 UNITY festival successfully managed to divert 43% of festival waste from landfill by adopting an ambitious 4 bin strategy. It was a challenge but worth it. This year we are upping the stakes to a 50% diversion and we need you to support this challenge. If you would like to get involved with the ’50% Landfill Diversion Challenge’ – please contact us. We urgently need volunteers to manage our waste strategy, to assist on the day with educating people about which bin to use and to help with the ‘dirty job’ but satisfying job of auditing our waste at the end of the event.

‘Be the change you want to see in the  world’ – Mahatma Gandhi

As part of this strategy;

• visitors to the 2011 UNITY festival have the option to donate a gold coin  to help carbon offset the festival
• visitors are requested to bring their own plate, cup and cutlery
• stall holders will provide sugar cane plates  and wooden cutlery only
• visitors purchasing wine from the bar will be given a biodegradable PLA wine glass sponsored by GreenPack
• straws, plastic bags, plastic coffee stirrers or cutlery are not available from any UNITY stall or outlet
• promotional flyers and posters printed on Monza Gloss – 55% recycled, carbon neutral paper – thanks to Spicers Paper
• an accurate figure of waste to landfill and recycling will be collected
• food compost bins, recycled bins (yellow lid), general waste bins (red lid) and commercially compostable bins (maroon lid) will be stationed around the  festival
• Festival goers will be requested to scrape their plates of food before disposing them in the recycling bins
• locals are encouraged to walk or ride a bike to the event.

Click here for the 2010 UNITY festival Waste Wise Report

Our THANKS goes to sponsors Tweed Shire Council and Solo Waste Recovery for assisting us with our bin requirements and waste collection.

Green Pack – suppliers of earth friendly festival products  – are on back board this year, to help us meet our challenge!  Green Pack have recently relocated to Billinudgel and continue to supply one of the most comprehensive Enviro  and Compostable Packaging ranges in Australia. Their Bio Packaging range includes Biocups, compostable cups, biodegradable plastic cups, PLA cornstarch cups and containers, PSM cornstarch cutlery and much more. Give them a call on (02) 66802550 or check out their website for viewing and ordering supplies.

UNITY festival organisers are dedicated to eco-friendly work practices. Festival sponsor Reflex and Spicers Paper have provided the UNITY festival with recycled paper for  flyers and tickets.  Other than promotional material, we are opting for a paper less office with almost all correspondence done electronically. Printing is kept to an absolute minimum. Our reverse air conditioner is only used when jumpers and scarfs don’t cut the chill and all electronic devises are switched off at the power point when not in use.

The Waste Management Hierarchy outlines the actions we all must follow in order to achieve a more sustainable future.

Avoiding, reducing, reusing and recycling are the simple actions that we can all practice to minimise waste.

Information sourced from Solo Recycle Recovery.