Over 2,000 tonnes of waste get produced at Glastonbury festival (Picture: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
It’s almost time for music lovers to head to Worthy Farm for Glastonbury Festival 2024 but organisers have put out a plea over waste.
While fans are focused on seeing headliners like Dua Lipa and Coldplay or preparing their wellies for the predicted rain, organisers are looking at rubbish.
With around 200,000 people expected to descend on the historic festival site, it’s no surprise that waste is a huge problem.
Hundreds of volunteer litter pickers attempt to clean up the site in the aftermath as on average over 2,000 tonnes of waste is produced over the weekend.
Glasto organisers are begging attendees to be a little more waste-conscious this year, bringing sturdy camping gear and most importantly taking it away again.
‘Love the farm, leave no trace,’ read a statement released ahead of everyone arriving in Somerset on June 26.
The festival has banned much single-use waste (Picture: Getty Images)
98% of tents were taken home by festival goers (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Leaving your tent behind is a huge festival faux pas but after a weekend of mud and dancing it’s tempting to skip the take down altogether.
Organisers pleaded: ‘If you are coming to Glastonbury 2024, please remember to only bring sturdy camping equipment that you can take home again and reuse.’
Moves have been made to reduce waste from the vendors with bans on non-reusable or non-compostable plates and cutlery.
In 2019, the festival scrapped plastic water bottles and now encourage gig-goers to bring their own reusable bottles — as long as they take them home again.
In a huge move, the sale of disposable vapes was banned on the site last year and they are included on the do not bring list as ‘they pollute the environment and can be hazardous at waste centres.’
Key set times for Glastonbury headliners
Friday Glastonbury set times
Pyramid Stage
DUA LIPA 22:00 – 23:45
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 19:45 – 21:00
Other Stage
IDLES 22:15 – 23:30
D-BLOCK EUROPE 20:30 – 21:30
ANNE-MARIE 18:45 – 19:45
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB 17:15 – 18:15
Avalon Stage
KATE NASH 21:35 – 22:35
HAIRCUT 100 20:05 – 21:05
LULU 18:35 – 19:35
Acoustic Stage
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 20:00 – 21:00
Park Stage
FONTAINES D.C. 23:00 – 00:15
DEXYS 18:00 – 19:00
BARRY CAN’T SWIM 14:00 – 14:45
Saturday Glastonbury set times
Pyramid Stage
COLDPLAY 21:45 – 23:45
LITTLE SIMZ 19:45 – 20:45
KEANE 16:00 – 17:00
CYNDI LAUPER 14:30 – 15:30
Other Stage
DISCLOSURE 22:30 – 23:45
THE STREETS 20:30 – 21:30
CAMILA CABELLO 18:45 – 19:45
West Holts Stage
JESSIE WARE 22:15 – 23:45
MASEGO 20:30 – 21:30
Stonebridge Bar
RUDIMENTAL B2B TODD EDWARDS 03:30 – 05:00
IDRIS ELBA 02:30 – 03:30
Acoustic Stage
RUSSELL CROWE’S INDOOR GARDEN PARTY 18:30 – 19:30
Sunday Glastonbury set times
Pyramid Stage
SZA 21:30 – 23:15
BURNA BOY 19:30 – 20:30
JANELLE MONAE 17:45 – 18:45
SHANIA TWAIN 15:45 – 17:00
PALOMA FAITH 13:45 – 14:45
SEASICK STEVE 12:30 – 13:15
Other Stage
THE NATIONAL 21:45 – 23:15
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB 19:45 – 20:45
AVRIL LAVIGNE 18:00 – 19:00
Avalon Stage
THE FEELING 22:50 – 23:50
CAITY BASER 21:20 – 22:20
BABY QUEEN 18:20 – 19:20
This has made a difference to the waste left behind with organisers adding: ‘In 2023, 98% of all tents were taken home. Let’s see if we can beat that this year.’
While 98% is an incredible feat, with 210,000 people attending that’s still up to 4,000 tents abandoned around on the farm afterwards.
Glasto claims that ‘all cans, glass, paper, wood and organic waste collected from the 15,000 bins are hand-separated and processed at the on-site recycling facility’.
Clean-up will begin on July 1 after four days of music, secret sets, comedy and more at the iconic festival.
Glastonbury Festival takes place at Worthy Farm from Wednesday, June 26, to Sunday, June 30.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.