2008 marks the 29th year of the Festival for the Eno in Durham, North Carolina. Each year, for 3 days anchored by the 4th of July, approximately 30,000 people from around the State come to the West Point on the Eno to dance, eat, hear live music, browse great crafts and learn about regional environmental topics. 

Organized by the Eno River Association, the Festival for the Eno offers an array of activities with an underlying theme of community action and environmental awareness. Festival exhibits, activities and programs highlight the relationship between the river, the surrounding land (its watershed), and the community. The premise of these educational programs and activities is that participation will foster ecological awareness. It is believed that increased awareness and understanding of one's environment leads to informed choices and ecologically responsible behavior. 

In 1992, the Association made a commitment to reduce its landfill-bound waste, striving to offer a "Trash-Free" Festival for the Eno. A collaborative effort of organizers, sponsors,vendors, volunteers and participants is undertaken to minimize the amount of waste generated during the Festival, and to recycle or compost as many materials as possible.

How the "Trash-Free" Festival Works

Instead of traditional garbage cans, the Festival provides a number of recycling stations throughout the grounds. The recycling stations have separate receptacles for each of the material types generated at the Festival. The majority of recycling stations are monitored by volunteers to ensure that materials are properly placed. These volunteers are a vital link in the success of the program, as they also serve to educate Festival participants about the importance of proper separation and answer specific questions. Materials recycled at the recycling stations include glass bottles, aluminum cans, corrugation, newsprint and compostables (food scraps, paper plates and paper cups). Materials such as cardboard packaging are recovered directly from the vendors for recycling.

A Handbook - "Developing Trash-Free Special Events-A Planning Guide for North Carolina Communities and Event Planners" is available.

Published by he Eno River Association, with the aide of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources this book outlines startegies and timelines useful in adapting the success of the Tras-Free program for your special event.

Funding for this project was provided in part through a grant from the' North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance.

DOWNLOAD PDF here.(Document Size:4.2 mb)