Roots N Blues N BBQ is set to bring big crowds to Columbia, and with big crowds comes big waste. The Roots N Blues N BBQ team welcomes sustainability and encourages guests to help make the festival as environmentally friendly as possible. Its sustainability team has implemented a variety of sustainability features into the weekend.
####Green Vendors####
The Green Vendor program began in 2014 to encourage the vendors to reduce a large part of waste that Roots N Blues N BBQ produces. Green Vendors must complete five different sustainable tasks; recycling, composting, fry oil recycling, using green containers and using local, organic, fair trade products.
Roots N Blues N BBQ will also offer metal straws at merch tents and bars this year. The festival encourages festival goers to take home their stainless steel straws to continue to reduce waste even when they’re not at Roots N Blues N BBQ. Vendors will continue to offer plastic straws if needed.
####Green Team####
Roots N Blues N BBQ has a group of volunteers called the Green Team that focuses on sustainability throughout the weekend. The Green Team picks up trash and recyclables from the festival grounds and properly disposes of them to keep the park clean throughout the weekend. Stephens Lake Park is a national arboretum, and the festival intends to keep it preserved. Volunteers also focus on educating festival goers on ways they can be more sustainable by encouraging conversations with the Green Team. The Green Team also works after the festival is over to return the park back to how it was before the crowds.
####EverGreen Generator####
Roots N Blues N BBQ will run on an EverGreen generator, which is an eco-friendly generator that specializes in providing temporary energy for events, construction sites or disaster sites. EverGreen uses less fuel than comparable generators to reduce both cost and carbon footprint for the festival.
The festival also encourages the attendees to engage in sustainable practices while at the festival. Festival goers are encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle throughout the weekend.
####Reduce####
Roots N Blues N BBQ encourages attendees to leave their car at home. Many festival goers ride their bike to Stephens Lake Park, which has caused the festival to build bigger Bike Corrals for people to park their bike throughout the weekend. The festival will also have free giveaways at the Bike Corral throughout the weekend for people who rode their bike. GetAbout Columbia will give out free headlights and the City of Columbia will offer free transportation throughout the weekend through Go COMO to the festival and various hotels in Columbia.
####Reuse####
In addition to the green containers used at the vendor stations, Roots N Blues N BBQ will provide reusable bar cups. The cups reduce waste and also allow guests access to an express bar line. The festival also highly encourages people to bring their reusable water bottles with them to stay hydrated and to reduce waste. Roots N Blues N BBQ will have a free water refill station throughout the entire weekend.
####Recycle####
Roots N Blues N BBQ will have various recycling containers throughout the festival that accept #1-7 plastics, cardboard, newspapers, paper bags, steel, aluminum, glass and paper. The Green Team also encourages festival goers to recycle throughout the weekend.
Roots N Blues N BBQ tries to make the festival a sustainable and eco-friendly environment but relies on the festival goers to truly make an effort throughout the weekend. Take advantage of all of the options the festival provides during your Roots N Blues N BBQ experience.
_Edited by Siena DeBolt | sdebolt@themaneater.com_
