Whole Earth Festival

WEF is a ZERO-WASTE FESTIVAL. Last year, we recycled or composted over 97% of the materials placed into the bins, thanks to you, the KP volunteers, and the co-operation of all the food vendors and participants. Unless festival goers bring it, there should be no trash at the festival. We’ve implemented several programs to make it easier to do this, especially with our re-usable dish program (Whole Earth Re-usables Co-operative) and months of planning by the compost and recycling Directors. At each recycling station, there will be signs saying what is acceptable. Please be mindful that throughout the weekend, volunteers actually sort through all the materials placed into these bins to make sure that as much of the materials as possible are recycled appropriately. At least once during the festival, please visit the Resource Recovery Zone on the northwestern corner of the Quad to thank these hard-working volunteers. Without them, this festival would not be possible. If you are interested in implementing zero-waste in your homes, please attend one of the free compost workshops this weekend.

Derek Downey and Crystal Huang, Compost and Recycling Directors for WEF 2007

Whole Earth Festival: not only 3 days, but 365 days of zero-waste practices

by Derek Downey and Crystal Huang

Last year, an article in the school newspaper had claimed that the Whole Earth Festival is hypocritical in employing a Zero-Waste focus for a “measly 3 days” on the Quad. I was a bit disappointed that the writer had not noticed the dedication of several WEF staff members to zero-waste practices throughout the year. For example, the same staff members that put on WEF are the directors of ASUCD Project Compost, which runs the composting operation on campus, that manages to divert over 250 tons of campus organic matter from the landfill each year. The composting at WEF is but a small percentage of the yearly diversion total.

This same student-run composting crew, has also inspired the Mayor and City Council of Davis to choose as one of its focused goals: the implementation of a citywide composting program, a huge accomplishment for couple of passionate students. It has also started its very own worm farm to distribute free worms to the hundreds of people who attend their free composting workshops throughout the year. Their worm composting workshops currently attract some 70 people each workshop, an amazing number given that Project Compost is in its 6th year of operation. The same people who put on Whole Earth festival are also student leaders of R4 Recycling, which leads tons of other zero-waste events throughout the school year and which does a terrific job of managing the entire recycling needs of the campus, and we’re not just talking about aluminum. They recycle paper, cardboard, glass, cans, bottles, metals, and several other items. They have also implemented tons of programs aimed at reducing pollution and wasteful practices. Some of these include: 1) recycling of materials at construction and demolition sites; 2) a mug program that aims at re-use rather than the wasteful use of disposables; 3) a multi-bin program that recycles many toxic materials such as batteries and computers (keeping them from the landfill, where they pollute the groundwater). Before 1989, there was no R4 recycling at UC Davis. Before 2001, there was no Project Compost. These programs have expanded incredibly in the last few years because of a large number of passionate students with a concern for the environment.

Arise, Smile, and Be the Change, not just for 3 days, but for all the days between WEF 2007 and WEF 2008. There’s an amazing amount of positive change happening everyday at UC Davis thanks to many of the students putting on WEF, and we invite you to bring home with you the ideas brought forth by Whole Earth Festival 2007. You can start by attending one of the compost workshops at 3pm Saturday and and 3pm Sunday, put on by Project Compost. Remember to smile.