(Honesdale, June 14, 2016)…High five for Honesdale Roots & Rhythm’s Sustainability Team! The team, along with all of the festival’s volunteers, has helped Roots & Rhythm win a 2016 Waste Watchers Award from PROP (Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania)—good news just days before the June 18th event.
“We are thrilled! And we want everyone to come to this year’s festival on Saturday to listen to great music and see what a wonderful job our Sustainability Team has been doing,” says Deb Bailey, event chair. “This award recognizes our efforts to reach a zero-waste goal. We are very close!”
In the last decade, Honesdale Roots and Rhythm’s audience has expanded at the same time it’s vastly reduced its’ waste imprint. In 2008, more than 4200 pounds of trash was collected at the site of the festival; in 2015, last year, there was only 320 pounds of trash. Each year, festival-goers are encouraged by volunteers to dispose of waste in one of three bins: trash, recyclables or food waste/compostables. Food vendors are also asked to use recyclable or compostable goods for serving.
In acknowledging the Sustainability Team, led by Cheryl and Stu Badner, and the entire Roots organization, PROP’s Douglas Orner wrote, “We are honored to recognize the conscientious effort of individuals and organizations like the Roots and Rhythm Music and Arts Festival who work to reduce their environmental impact. “
The 11th annual Honesdale Roots & Rhythm, a free event for folks of all ages, kicks off this Saturday, June 18th with hot air balloon rides from Re/Max Wayne at 9am, then downtown bands starting at 10:30am. The main stage music begins at 1:30pm with the national anthem sung by Honesdale High School students Kylee Freiermuth, Madison Palmer, Drew Murphy and Jordan Pugh. This year’s headliner is Amy Helm, who will be preceded by Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles, The Tall Pines and 2/3 Goat.
Roots & Rhythm is supported by donations and grants, including awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pocono Arts Council.
Photo: Only 320 pounds of landfill/trash was collected in 2015, replacing what used to be a full 20-yard roll-off dumpster. 2016 Waste Watcher seal.