The Harvest on Mercer festival on Mercer Street downtown recently set a new record for waste diversion, keeping more than 85 per cent of festival waste out of the landfill. The City of Wrenford, in partnership with local vendors, artists, and community groups, rolled out a comprehensive zero-waste strategy for the event.
Visitors were directed to clearly marked collection stations for organic scraps, recyclables, and general waste. Festival organizers partnered with the City's Garbage & Recycling team to ensure proper sorting on-site. Food waste from vendors and attendees went straight into the green bin stream, while paper plates, cardboard, and cans were directed to the blue bin. Volunteers stationed at each station helped guests separate their items correctly.
Turning a large public event into a zero-waste operation shows how practical sustainable habits can be, says Ben Achterberg, Waste Programs Supervisor. We are proud to see residents and vendors embrace the sorting stations and help keep our city clean.
You can bring these same sorting habits home. Check the Waste Wizard online tool to see exactly where your household items belong. If you have leftover food or unopened household products, consider sharing them with a neighbour or donating them to a local food bank. For non-recyclable items, the black cart remains your final stop.
The City tracks festival waste results to improve our waste management by-law and community programs. Learn more about how you can reduce your own waste at home on the Zero Waste page.