Student Research Creating Greater Awareness on Music Festival Environmental Impacts

By Noel Criscione-Naylor, Associate Professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies, �鶹��ý����

Maggie Brennan, a Senior Psychology Major with an Integrative Health Minor, discovered a keen interest in events and research. Following her enrollment in GSS 3209 Bucket List Events, taught by Dr. Noel Criscione-Naylor, Associate Professor, and Chair of Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management, Maggie began to explore the multifaceted perspectives surrounding large-scale events and festivals. Subsequently, in GEN 2240 Introduction to Research under the guidance of Adjunct Professor Melissa Holzman in the School of General Studies, Maggie narrowed her focus and took a deeper dive into researching the environmental impact of waste production at music festivals.

Music festivals and celebrations often unite people, crafting enduring memories. Music festivals draw together multitudes sharing common interests, fostering unique environments dedicated to celebrating diverse music genres. These festivals offer individuals a chance to forge indelible moments. However, amid these cherished experiences, there lies a lasting impact on the environment. Annually, music festivals generate immense volumes of waste, leaving a substantial ecological footprint. The convergence of thousands over several days from various corners of the globe results in substantial waste production. This waste poses environmental threats due to improper disposal practices and excessive production of disposable items. While the celebration of music remains pivotal to society, its toll on the environment manifests through single-use disposables, food waste, residual refuse, and carbon emissions.

“Music festivals are outdoor multi-day ticketed events involving musical performances, as well as providing food, drinks, merchandise, and activities. Not every music festival is the same. Each one celebrates different music genres and performers with different venues and themes. Music festivals have two important roles in society: being an economic resource and bringing people together,” Maggie describes. Furthermore, music festivals can be held anywhere, which has become a significant resource for local economics through a variety of economic stimuli, such as purchasing food, drinks, hotels, and transportation fees.

As part of Maggie’s research, she gathered a variety of resources and data that focused on the overabundance of waste generated at music festivals. She noted that Bosser-Carenys (2021) categorized generated waste at music festivals as: organic waste, paper and plastic waste, wooden waste, and residual waste. Organic waste is generated from food and drinks, which are essential to feed attendee