This year, the festival aims to reach four thousand people who want to recycle type 1 and type 2 plastic.
Green bag in hand, filled with bottles, containers and plastic packaging, you wait in line to hand over the largest admission ticket you've ever carried, knowing you'll enjoy an unforgettable night of music with a purpose.
This is the scene hundreds of young people and adults enjoy year after year at the Garnier Green Fest, an event that has spent ten years promoting recycling on the Island.
This Saturday, April 27, the eco-conscious music festival returns to Anfiteatro Tito Puente in San Juan, with the participation of Álvaro Díaz, PJ Sin Suela, Paopao, and the band Enanitos Verdes.
Organized by beauty brand Garnier, the event promotes recycling through practice. To enter, attendees must hand over a bag full of type 1 and type 2 plastic waste at the door. That way, they learn the standard recycling process: identifying the classification, separating the materials, and making a responsible drop-off.
Through the initiative, more than 58,000 pounds of recyclable material have been diverted from landfills.
"What we can really make an impact on, and the type of material for which there are resources and machinery to recycle in Puerto Rico, is type 1 and type 2 plastic. To have an impact on what truly affects our community: that's why we collect type 1 and type 2 plastic," Garnier brand manager Natalie Pietri told Platea.
Plastic is one of the materials most present in our landfills. According to the recent solid waste characterization study published in January, it made up 17% of the trash.
"On top of that, we focus on plastic because the vast majority of our packaging is made from these types of plastic. […] How do we keep those plastic containers out of landfills? By promoting recycling," Pietri emphasized.
Last year, the festival collected more than 6,000 pounds of plastic at its ninth edition, held at Coca Cola Music Hall.
This year, they are looking to reach between 4,000 and 5,000 people, which they estimate translates to around 7,000 pounds.
Although admission is one bag per person, the event encourages attendees to bring more waste if they wish.
"There are people who don't have a place nearby where they can take their recyclable materials, or who don't live in municipalities that have this initiative yet […]. Don't limit yourself to just bringing that one bag to get in; bring all the type 1 and type 2 plastic you have at home," the brand manager added.
A challenge worth taking on
Since its start in 2014, the Green Fest has partnered with Basura Cero PR. The nonprofit handles the responsible management of recyclable plastics, ensuring that the waste collected at each edition is diverted from landfills.
The event also promotes eco-consciousness through its internal logistics.
Each edition has labeled recycling stations where attendees can deposit waste such as water bottles and recyclable containers.
The brand manager specified that the cups provided at the event will be biodegradable. Plastic waste collected at the stations is also counted in the total gathered each year.
"At this event, a lot of material is generated in terms of signs, the branding for the brands, all the event décor, but for all these materials we work with a supplier, ExpressWay, and they operate sustainably," Pietri detailed.
"It's a very strong commitment. It's not easy. This has many components; it's not just us as a brand, but finding the right partners, […] making sure it's not an empty effort, and thinking about how we use suppliers to run the event sustainably," the brand manager added.
Where can I recycle in Puerto Rico? Find the locations here.
Plastic use bill approved
The impact of "small" actions remains essential, however. On April 18, the Senate passed bill 1374, which would delay until 2025 the entry into force of Law 51 of 2022, which prohibits the sale and use of single-use plastics starting in June 2024.
If the House passes bill 1374, the actions of individuals and businesses committed to the environment become more important.
How to get your admission pass and make the most of it
Although many already know how this works, here is the process in brief:
1. Buy 3 participating Garnier products
These are Garnier Fructis, Garnier Whole Blends, Garnier Olia, Garnier Nutrisse and/or Garnier SkinActive.
2. Show the receipt to a promoter at a promotional visit to receive your green bag
You can find the list of remaining promotional visits for April 25, 26 and 27 here.
3. Bring your bag full to the event
After receiving the bag, you will need to fill it with type 1 and type 2 plastic waste. You can start by checking your home for items with the symbol, or you can organize a brief cleanup at a beach or natural area with a group. To see all the rules, you can check here.
Attendees are advised to wear comfortable, light clothing. Since the event is outdoors, bring ponchos or rain layers in case of rain, as the Green Fest does not allow umbrellas.
At the Garnier Village, there will be a variety of food stations, as well as hair styling stations, offering a unique aesthetic touch for anyone who wants a different look for the evening.
If you want to save a little more money, you can take advantage of the fact that Tren Urbano and AMA will still be free through June.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
