LET'S SAVE THE WORLD

All ROTHBURY offices have been “Greened.” Just a few examples of the many sustainable initiatives we have implemented include: full service recycling is active at all offices; all paper products are 100% recycled, including but not limited to printing paper, copy paper, envelopes, letterhead; office printing is either two sided, or on the back of reused paper; all our offices use only reusables and compostable kitchen-ware, no disposables; all office supplies have been replaced by their eco equivalents: rechargeable batteries, hand soap, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, energy efficient light bulbs, and more; the ROTHBURY team travels only when necessary, and when we do travel, we offset the carbon we create from our hotel stays, flights and/or automobiles.

When purchasing or even renting an item, ROTHBURY asks ourselves three questions:

a. Where is this coming from?
b. How was it made?
c. Where might it end up? 

For example, printing (this includes our on-site programs, posters, tickets, survival guides, smaller signage, etc.):

a. Our paper comes from an independent/green-only paper company
It is 100% recycled content, no trees cut.
b. It is printed with soy-based inks. We will not print anything unnecessary, so as to reduce waste.
c. Everything we do print can be recycled again, and we will provide recycling containers on site so that it has a better chance of reentering the system.

ROTHBURY is taking advantage of our ability to vote with our dollar. In addition to recycled paper, ROTHBURY purchases compostables instead of disposables, offers organic and sustainable merchandise (t-shirts, hats), uses biodiesel, made from a recycled waste product, provides organic, veggie & vegan food vendors throughout the grounds, a farmers market thanks to Sweetwater Local Foods, and more. Heck, we are even swapping out the porta-potty toilet paper to 100% recycled. Got another idea? Let us know!

ROTHBURY is committed to eliminating trash. If trash can be replaced with a more sustainable option, such as a reusable, it will be. If an item is going to end up in a landfill, we are going to make best efforts to not use it in the first place.  Additionally, our vendors, sponsors and other on-site associates have enthusiastically (and contractually) agreed to our same high standards, and will not hand out anything that might soon be thrown ‘away’.  Where is away?

Instead of standard ‘trash items’ like plastic cups, plates and utensils, ROTHBURY uses compostable products made from renewable plant sources. Examples include plates made of sugarcane (called Bagasse), and cups, straws, and trash bags made of corn (called Bioplastic). ROTHBURY strongly encourages our attendees to bring their compostable items to one of the many manned compost stations on the grounds!

As much as 30-40% of the ‘trash’ generated at an average festival could have been composted (and most of the rest can be recycled). In an effort to divert as much waste as possible, ROTHBURY has hundreds of manned Waste Reclamation Stations available on-site. These stations accept all compostable food and food service items, as well as any personal items you would like to bring to us that are biodegradable (like paper). Because ROTHBURY is an ‘overnight’ festival that allows attendees to bring in their own food & food service items into the campgrounds, the possibility for accidental tainting is strong (a few petroleum items can taint it all). For this reason, you will not see compost bins along side every recycling/trash bin in the actual camping grounds. However, manned compost stations will be available throughout the event grounds, and will be marked on the event maps, for your convenience.

For those items that are not compostable, like bottles and cans, ROTHBURY will provide easy to use full-service recycling. At ROTHBURY, you will never see a trashcan without a recycling can along side it.  All recycling can be mixed in MI except paper and cardboard. That means plastic bottles, glass bottles, aluminum cans & even yogurt containers may all go in the same bin. Please remove bottle caps & throw them away, as they are not accepted in MI. Anywhere you see a trash can at ROTHBURY, you will also see recycle cans. Each will be labeled clearly, so please be sure to pause, read them, and select accordingly. When in doubt, check out our What Goes Where Guide for all you need to know.

* As for paper & cardboard - The MI processing facility does not allow paper & cardboard to be mixed into the recycling. Therefore, since there is so little paper on site, we are putting it in the compost. This includes items like paper cups.  As for cardboard boxes, we have a special cardboard collection program back of house, since we have so many shipments coming in. While it is uncommon for attendees to have much cardboard to recycle, if you do, please place it on the ground next to any Waste Reclamation Station & we will bring it to our back of house bin.

Not sure if an item is compost, recycling, or trash? When in doubt, just ask the Green Team! ROTHBURY’s tremendous volunteer Green Team will be on hand to assist with questions, sorting, and to generally assist in the elimination of tainting. They are well trained and ready to answer any questions you might have. Want to volunteer and get into the event for free? Great, we couldn’t do it without you! Check out details about ROTHBURY’s Work Exchange Program.

ROTHBURY is run on a variety of Green Energy sources including biodiesel, solar, human energy and more. The festival is primarily run on generators with various mixes of biodiesel, depending on what they are powering. Most of our light towers, trailers and other infrastructure generators run on B100 made from a recycled waste product of Ethanol, thanks to Michigan’s own Next Diesel. We use a blended mix of biodiesel and standard diesel fuel for our stage generators, that blend ranges from B20 (20% biodiesel) to B100 (100% biodiesel). We also use solar in a variety of areas including our cell phone recharging station and some art installations. And human power is also used for much of the art. Lastly, we offset the festival, including flights, automobiles, etc, with wind energy from a nearby Midwest Wind Farm.

While we’d love to fly to Michigan on an ethanol plane, the opportunity does not yet exist. For those items we cannot run with clean energy (like a hotel room or an airline flight), ROTHBURY is offsetting our carbon output by investing in wind farms through the non profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation. In 2009 we are helping to build Tananka, the largest wind farm in North and South Dakota, which will generate enough clean energy to power more than 60,000 U.S. homes.

ROTHBURY is working with public transportation systems to create easy to use travel opportunities, and incentives for those who reduce their impact by taking public transport. For more information on CLIF Bar's rideshare program and more click here.

ROTHBURY is dedicated to educating through experience. ROTHBURY features art that is human powered, solar powered, and more. Most projects are made from junk, much of which we found in the local area. Other experiential aspects include activities like the Think Tanks, and our Greening tours.

Whenever possible, ROTHBURY buys local, hires local, and supports local.

In 2009, ROTHBURY will once again team up with Conscious Alliance to host the ROTHBURY FOOD DRIVE. ROTHBURY attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable and canned food items to donate. All donations will be distributed to local Michigan food pantries.

ROTHBURY’s Sustainable Schools Program is helping Michigan in their effort to be green, one school at a time. Each year, ROTHBURY partners with a different school to help implement sustainable initiatives that save them energy and money.  By building a solar panel system, integrating a wind turbine, or installing CFL light bulbs, ROTHBURY’s Sustainable Schools Program is empowering local schools to lessen their carbon footprint, while saving dollars that can be spent on education rather than energy costs. 

Additionally, ROTHBURY is donating all usable products to local charities, schools, community centers and the like after the event. A lot of great products can be claimed after building an event of this magnitude. After the event, the town of Rothbury, Grant Township, and the surrounding community will be invited to reclaim anything they might need, for free.  This includes compost!

Click here for details on special 2009 Initiatives.