At this year’s 17th annual Bull & Oyster Festival, the Rockbridge Conservation Waste Prevention Committee made a big impact by helping the community celebrate sustainably.
With over 600 meals served at the Rockbridge Area Health Center’s fundraiser, Rockbridge Conservation’s waste recovery initiative kept a significant amount of festival waste out of the landfill - thanks to strong partnerships and dedicated volunteers, said a spokesperson.
As part of its mission to promote sustainable practices in Rockbridge County, the Waste Prevention Committee organized a comprehensive waste diversion station at the festival, allowing attendees to sort their trash into compost, recycling, and landfill categories.
The results included: Seven gallons of food waste collected for composting by Shanti Leasure; Forty-five pounds of oyster shells diverted for roadbase fill; Thirty pounds of compostable paper plates processed by Paradox Farms; One bag of plastic film sent to Grace Episcopal’s TREX bench project; Two hundred and fifty aluminum cans (seven pounds) and 250 can tabs collected for recycling and Ronald McDonald House donations; One pickup load of recyclable bottles, cups, cardboard, and paper delivered to Rockbridge County’s recycling facilities; Only ½ bag of landfill trash generated from the entire event.
“This is a great example of community-driven conservation,” said the representative from Rockbridge Conservation. “By setting up a clear, accessible waste station and working with local composters, recyclers, and volunteers, we were able to recover a majority of the event’s waste stream.”
The Waste Prevention Committee is a grassroots effort of Rockbridge Conservation, working to educate, reduce, and ultimately prevent waste throughout the region.
To learn more or get involved, visit rockbridgeconservation. org.
