Olivia PowellA Greener Festival (AGF), Buenas Noches Producciones, Bye Bye Plastic and Voluntad Verde have conducted an initiative to raise awareness about the climate emergency and waste in South America.
The initiative consisted of the cleaning of Río Suquía shores at Kempes’ Park in Córdoba, Argentina, and a discussion about the commitment of the electronic music scene to sustainability, the damaging effects of plastics and best ways to reduce waste at events.
CEO and founder of Buenas Noches Producciones, Ivan Aballay, said: “We have been working hard to bring respect to the core of all elements that conform to our events for years. These include respect for our environment, our health, our peers. We are committed to lead the change in our local scene and strongly believe that consistency and continuity will get us there. This powerful initiative that brought together artists, staff and the local community is just the beginning.”
The pollution of the water and Suquía’s riverbank is a major environmental issue in Córdoba, yet the waste management system facilities of Córdoba, Centros Verdes, only manages clean and dry recyclables. As a result of this, waste from parks and river shores thay are often contaminated with other materials end up in landfill sites. The partnership and initiative aims to help tackle this issue by educating people on how to reduce consumption and help local waste not go to landfill.
Claire O’Neill from AGF said: “So often the discussion around sustainability is about limitation and lack. What we love about this inspiring collaboration is that it amplifies and enhances our combined energy to make a positive difference beyond the dancefloor. If the whole music industry took actions such as these surrounding gigs, the environmental benefits would be phenomenal.”
The event began with an opening statement led by Buenas Noches Producciones (BNP) detailing the commitment from the electronic music scene to helping tackle climate emergency. This involved its Dance and Recycling and Respect campaigns, the complete Sustainability Assessment conducted by AGF on 22November and its alliance with other similar organisations like Voluntad Verde and Bye Bye Plastic.
Following this, participants helped clean the Suquía riverbank, where they experienced the obstacles and challenges faced while attempting to maintain the area.
The activity concluded with a discussion concerning where the waste collected would end up, why it is important to become more conscious of consumption, and adopt better practices towards recyclables.
During 2018, 3095.3 tons of dry waste was processed in the city’s Centros Verdes at an average of more than 320 tons per month. In 2019, Centros Verdes hope to recover bigger volumes and through the initiative.
Bye Bye Plastic’s Vivi-ann Bakos said: “What an honour to be invited to be a part of something special like this. Thanks to Voluntad Verde, Micaela and everyone else for putting this together, I really could feel the genuine love, and we are all connected on this common interest for la Tierra. I’m sure when I come back there will be much progress! Communities that clean together, stay together.”