The Durrow Scarecrow Festival is set to become a beacon of sustainability as it pilots the ‘Green Your Festival Kit Laois,’ a new initiative by Laois County Council’s Climate Action Team.
This project, funded by Laois County Council, aims to support the greening of festivals throughout Laois by providing a Green Your Festival Kit.
The ‘Green Your Festival Kit Laois’ project offers three key services to festival organisers. Firstly, it provides guidance through onsite training sessions and checklists designed to help with sustainable event management. These tools aim to ensure that festivals can operate with minimal environmental impact by addressing various aspects such as waste management, energy usage, and resource efficiency.
Secondly, the project supplies ‘bintoppers’—visual aids placed on bins to help attendees correctly sort their waste into three streams: Waste, Recycling, and Food. This initiative aims to improve waste separation and reduce contamination, thereby enhancing recycling rates and minimising landfill waste.
Thirdly, the project introduces the use of Watsunn Battery packs, which provide a portable energy supply for events. These battery packs reduce the reliance on traditional generators, which are dependent on fossil fuels, thus lowering the carbon footprint of festivals.
Suzanne Dempsey, Climate Action Coordinator, expressed her enthusiasm for the programme: “Laois County Council is delighted to launch the Green Your Festival Laois project at the Durrow Scarecrow Festival. This initiative will greatly benefit participating festivals, and we look forward to working with many more events in the coming months. This pilot project provides an opportunity for Laois festivals and events to share their experiences, enhance their sustainability credentials, and develop best practices in climate action.”
The Durrow Scarecrow Festival, now in its 13th year, is organised by Emer O'Brien and a dedicated team of volunteers. Last year, the festival attracted over 35,000 visitors, making it one of the most popular events in the region. The importance of greening these events cannot be overstated, as it not only reduces the environmental impact but also signposts significant behavioural change towards sustainability among attendees.
To celebrate the launch of the Green Your Festival Laois kit, the Food Cloud Kitchen trailer hosted a free Food Waste talk at the festival, followed by serving delicious dishes made from rescued food produce. Food Cloud, a non-profit social enterprise, tackles climate change and food insecurity by rescuing surplus food from around the country and ensuring it reaches those in need. The event highlighted the tasty meals that can be made using leftover food.
“Food waste is an area where every family can make a meaningful impact on tackling climate change, as it is responsible for 8-10% of human-emitted greenhouse gases annually. By discussing food waste and showcasing meals made from leftovers, Laois County Council hopes to help the public save money on food shopping while positively impacting the environment,” said Sam McLeod, Environmental Awareness Officer.
The introduction of the Green Your Festival Laois kit represents a significant step forward in promoting sustainability at local events. The Durrow Scarecrow Festival, renowned for its creativity and community spirit, provides the perfect platform to showcase these new initiatives. Organisers are optimistic that this project will serve as a model for other festivals in Laois and beyond, demonstrating that sustainable practices can be seamlessly integrated into event planning and execution.
Festival organisers, local businesses, and community groups across Laois are encouraged to participate in the Green Your Festival Laois programme. By adopting these practices, events can not only reduce their environmental impact but also inspire attendees to embrace more sustainable lifestyles.
For more information on the Green Your Festival Laois kit, please contact Sam McLeod at Laois County Council: [email protected].
1.
2.
