Shrewsbury Folk Festival – looking after where we love to be!
Making Shrewsbury Folk Festival as sustainable as possible is a key priority for us – please work with us to achieve this.
One of the main ways you can help us it by taking your rubbish home and recycling it there. The cost of processing the sheer volume of waste generated at the festival is immense and every little helps. Thank you for your support.
We recycle the waste generated at the festival through the experienced event contractor, Barringtons.
Recycling 2025
In 2025, the festival generated 20.88 tonnes of waste – that included plastics, cardboard, glass, wood, paper, metal and mixed general waste.
Of that, 66% was recycled with the remaining 34% used for RDF (refuse derived fuels) that creates energy to power the country so no waste went to landfill.
Rubbish collected was processed on site and then sorted off site by north Shropshire firm PG Skips. Barringtons aims to partner with local companies wherever possible to support the economy in the areas where it works.
Recycling waste is a huge hidden cost for the festival – charges have risen by more than 21% since 2022 and a massive 82.1% since 2019. We’re committed to being as sustainable as possible and we’ll be reviewing this year’s recycling operation and seeing how we can do even more going forward.
Recycling Guide
NO SINGLE USE PLASTIC BOTTLES
Please bring your own reusable drinking container that can be filled from the numerous water points. Pint cups and bottles will be on sale in our Merch tent in the food village.
PLASTIC, GLITTER, BALLOONS AND SKY LANTERNS
If you wish to use glitter, please ensure it is biodegradable and please don’t use balloons or sky lanterns with open flames.
IN THE BAR
Moongazing Hare Bars sell reusable cups – you buy your cup when you’re first served and then can reuse it. You’re also welcome to use your own tankard!
BACKSTAGE
We do not supply water in plastic bottles and have replaced individual plastic milk pots with stainless steel jugs. We only use wooden cutlery, compostable cups and paper plates.
We use excess food (collected from supermarkets etc that would otherwise go to waste) from the Shrewsbury Food Hub to feed our set up and breakdown team and any left over food from hospitality is donated back to the Food Hub for sharing with local groups.
FOOD
Our food traders do not use polystyrene food boxes, single use plastic plates, cups or cutlery. And plastic straws aren’t allowed.
LEFT OVER CAMPING EQUIPMENT, GAS BOTTLES AND CARTRIDGES
Do not leave unwanted camping or other equipment behind. We have no way of disposing it.
YOUR WASTE
Please help us by taking as much rubbish home with you as possible. The cost of recycling the waste produced at the festival is vast.
At your camp – think ahead and keep your recycling separate from your rubbish – bring your own recycling box with you to keep it organised as you go along! You can then take it home and dispose of it easily.
DOG WASTE
If you are bringing a dog with you, please bring bags and use the dog poo bin near gate 2 rather than the recycling bins. It upsets our recycling team – thank you!!