A greener and cleaner Paradise: our waste and recycling plan

We're not slowing down after being awarded the title of the Most Sustainable Music Festival in the World in 2024. Waste management has always been high on the agenda. But for this upcoming edition, we're doubling down on our efforts, with smarter systems and an even stronger focus on awareness, especially at the campsite.

Over the past years, we've made great progress in reducing our festival’s waste footprint. In 2024, we reached a 52.8% recycling rate — a solid step up from 42.5% in 2023 — thanks to initiatives like reusable cups and plates, food donation programs, and a long-standing ban on single-use plastics in bars and food trucks (in place since 2018).

This summer, we're taking that ban even further. Single-use plastics will now also be excluded from all goodies and partner merchandise. In addition, more beverage partners are switching from cans to refillable 1,5-liter glass bottles, cutting down on unnecessary packaging across the festival.

We've also continued designing our production materials — signage, banners, wooden elements — for reuse, not just at Paradise City but also at our other events in Belgium, France, and Austria. From working with rental partners to sourcing from secondhand shops, our ultimate goal is an entirely circular production flow. But we're not there yet.

In 2024, the amount of waste per visitor went up, mainly because of the higher volumes of waste collected at the campsite — a reminder that real change requires everyone's participation. That's why our campsite gets extra attention this year. We want to make it as easy as possible for campers to sort and return their waste correctly. This year, we'll install more bins and a second recycling point, allowing everyone to bring back their garbage bags without waiting in long lines, with both points open every day, not just on Monday. To help everyone pack up responsibly, we'll hand out ropes so people can bundle their tents and gear and take everything home, including those large party tents. Extra crew will also be on-site all weekend to help things go smoothly.

We'll continue our deposit system: upon arrival, campers receive two waste bags and pay a deposit (€10), which they get back when returning the bags correctly. Ecofest remains our trusted partner in coordinating waste management, both on the festival site and the campsite.

Meanwhile, the River Cleanup team will be present throughout the weekend to raise awareness and inspire action among our community of campers.

At the heart of our waste-reduction efforts is a simple idea: what can be reused, should be. We'll continue designing for longevity and smart reuse across all production levels. Waste at festivals is a complex challenge, but with every edition, we aim to get better. We're counting on our visitors to help us take Paradise City's waste management to the next level in 2025. "Leave no trace" may be an overused, corny saying, but it's a motto we live by nonetheless.