This Saturday, November 9, 2024, the “Zero Waste La Réunion” festival took place at the December 20 park in Saint-Leu. The objective is to raise awareness about waste reduction and to highlight local stakeholders. As part of the festival, 19 associations and 20 artisans mobilized around an associative village, craft market, workshops, conferences, marmay space… We publish the press release below (Photo: Zero Waste)
Several actions have been implemented to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost waste at the festival:
– Zero single-use products for exhibitors (all transformed packaging, neither compostable nor recyclable), in order to favor reusable or natural solutions. For example, artisans had to think about alternatives to gift wrap during sales.
– Zero disposable tableware, thanks to the participation of Réutiliz, for the implementation of deposits on trays, glasses and cutlery.
– Zero food waste (or very little), with balanced and diversified meals, with appropriate portions. All of the festival's bio-waste was then composted by the Pei Alchemists.
– Zero paper waste with limited printing. Zero goodies or flyers distributed en masse.
– All materials that could be used will be reused (cardboards, tarpaulins, etc.)
Around 18kg of waste produced during the day, including assembly and dismantling (1kg of final waste, 6kg recyclable and 11kg of compostable waste). That is 50 times less than a “classic” event.
In addition to producing little waste, waste was also avoided by the festival activities: 150 kg of clothing recycled around a second-hand store and with Ti Tang Récup, 20 kg of unsold fruits and vegetables saved in the kitchen for the volunteers, and 30 kg of objects repaired thanks to the Réparali run by Ekopratik. Or a compassion greater than the waste of the festival.
Beyond waste, the association considered the overall impact of the festival on the environment. Highlighting soft mobility solutions (partnership with Karos, secure bicycle parking), local production for drinks (drink producers in Saint-Leu) and catering (use of local and non-meat products).
To unite and raise awareness among the various participants (restaurateurs, artisans, partners, festival-goers, etc.), an eco-responsibility charter recalls the various commitments of the festival.
An unmeasurable impact to date is the awareness of participants, particularly through practical workshops on new zero-waste gestures in everyday life: manufacturing of cleaning products, workshops on sewing menstrual panties, weaving of vacoa, composting… An experience which proves that it is possible to make changes in our lifestyle habits, even on the scale of an event with several thousand participants!
Why a zero waste event?
Organizing an event, and therefore concentrating participants, equipment and energy in the same place and in an ephemeral manner, can cause strong pressure on the environment and natural resources. According to Ademe, an average demonstration of 5,000 people would generate 2.5 tonnes of waste and consume 1,000 kWh of energy.
A “zero waste, zero waste” event is therefore an event which integrates from its design the reduction of waste production and limits the use of raw materials, thanks to several action levers:
● Reduce waste production induced by the event upstream
● Plan waste management and its recovery
● Raise awareness among participants
News from Reunion, Saint-Leu, Waste, Environment
