The New Community Coalition at Telluride Bluegrass

16 Jun The New Community Coalition at Telluride Bluegrass

Telluride Bluegrass Festivarians should see some familiar faces in the grounds this year –  and not just on stage.

Telluride-based The New Community Coalition once again has a booth in the "Green Zone," sharing space with the Drepung Monks. Visitors can pick up sustainability tips – and if it's sunny, a sun-baked cookie. TNCC'S e-mod demonstration unit shows how solar works and includes a small cell phone charging station.

Planet Bluegrass led the way among Telluride festival in sustainable festivation. Five years ago Bluegrass staff asked if  TNCC's Sustainability Coordination Kris Holstrom, who had started gathering compostables behind the scenes many years ago, if she thought composting for 10,000 people was possible. This year, Kris and sidekick Walter Wright are back on the job, supervising the Compost, Recycling and Trash volunteers once again, but now a crew of 30+ volunteers at 10 different stations helps direct festival goers as to where exactly to toss their waste.

At the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, trash volumes have decreased significantly while composting and recycling keep on growing. Great changes from a small start.