The Detrimental Impact Of Festival Season
With only a couple of heatwaves having hit the UK this year, it feels almost as if Summer isn’t quite summering this year. Nevertheless, there is one thing that is still going ahead no matter what the weather is like: Music Festivals.
After Glastonbury’s festivities ended, we enjoyed watching the highlights and performances from the comfort of our beloved homes – you can check out our favourite highlights here. But with all that in mind and all the positive highlights that each year’s festival season brings us, it’s time we address the elephant in the room — music festivals are bad, and it’s their fault.
The Environmental Impact
One of the main concerns associated with music festivals is their environmental impact. These large gatherings produce a significant amount of waste, including plastic bottles, food containers, and abandoned camping equipment. Despite attempts to promote sustainability by encouraging recycling and offering eco-friendly options, the vast scale of these events makes it challenging to effectively address their environmental harm.
Glow sticks, for example, have become a staple at festivals and outdoor events due to their ability to illuminate the night and their vibrant colours. While these glowing devices are popular for their fun and convenience, their environmental impact is often overlooked.
Glow sticks, despite their popularity, are not biodegradable, leading to long-term environmental presence and contributing to global plastic pollution. Despite being largely made of recyclable plastics, glow sticks are frequently left on the ground after these events, increasing plastic waste and harming the environment unnecessarily. In fact, although the chemicals in glow sticks are typically non-toxic, their release into the environment is a concern, especially if they leach into soil and water, posing risks to wildlife and ecosystems.
It's perplexing that these events haven't embraced eco-friendly alternatives like LED or solar-powered glow sticks.
The Social Impact
Another notable issue surrounding music festivals is their effect on local communities. While these events attract tourists and provide an economic boost, they often neglect the well-being and requirements of the communities hosting them. Noise pollution, traffic congestion, and strain on local resources are among the challenges faced by these communities during festival seasons. Rather than fostering a mutually beneficial relationship, festivals frequently exploit local areas for their own purposes.
Furthermore, music festivals have fostered a culture of excess and substance misuse. The widespread use of drugs and alcohol at these gatherings has become normalised, creating a risky environment for participants. Despite efforts to introduce harm reduction strategies, the festival environment continues to attract individuals seeking an escape through substance abuse. This not only jeopardises the safety and welfare of attendees but also burdens emergency services and medical facilities too.
Festivals have veered away from their origins, with negative effects on the environment and local communities. In order to keep enjoying these events, it is crucial to reassess festival culture and rediscover the values that initially made them attractive. Otherwise, we may continue to support a system that values profit over authenticity, environmental concerns, and the welfare of attendees and local communities.
[info sourced on medium.com and luxuo.com; images sourced on canva.com]