Our Commitment to a Zero Waste Event
At Animas River Days, we celebrate the rivers that bring us together—and we believe in protecting them, too! That’s why we’re making a strong commitment to Zero Waste at our festival.
With the help of our amazing partners—Diversion Designers, Table to Farm, WeFill Durango, and the City of Durango—we’re reducing landfill waste, increasing composting and recycling, and encouraging reusable alternatives throughout the event. But what does Zero Waste actually mean, and how can you help? Let’s break it down!
What It Means to Be a Zero Waste Event
A Zero Waste event is one where as little waste as possible goes to the landfill. This means:
How We’re Making Animas River Days Zero Waste
How You Can Help
We’re making it easy for festival-goers to go Zero Waste, but we need your help to make it happen! Here’s what you can do:
Together, we can show that a festival can be both fun and environmentally responsible. Let’s protect the Animas River, reduce our waste, and make 2025 the greenest Animas River Days yet!
With the help of our amazing partners—Diversion Designers, Table to Farm, WeFill Durango, and the City of Durango—we’re reducing landfill waste, increasing composting and recycling, and encouraging reusable alternatives throughout the event. But what does Zero Waste actually mean, and how can you help? Let’s break it down!
What It Means to Be a Zero Waste Event
A Zero Waste event is one where as little waste as possible goes to the landfill. This means:
- Composting food scraps & biodegradable items
- Recycling properly to ensure valuable materials are repurposed
- Eliminating single-use plastics
- Encouraging reusable alternatives
How We’re Making Animas River Days Zero Waste
- Composting: We require all food vendors to use compostable packaging and utensils. This means that plates, napkins, and utensils won’t go to a landfill—they’ll be composted and turned into nutrient-rich soil instead! Compost bins will be available throughout the event, and our volunteers will make sure they’re emptied regularly.
- Recycling: All recyclable materials must be #1 or #2 plastics, aluminum, or cardboard. We’ll have clearly labeled recycling bins, and Zero Waste Ambassadors on-site to help attendees sort waste properly.
- Food Grade Frisbee Plates: Instead of single-use plates, we’re providing reusable, food-grade frisbee plates for vendors to serve food on! This means you get an awesome souvenir while cutting down on waste. Plus, we’ll have dishwashing stations at the festival, so you can reuse your frisbee plate throughout the day—keeping waste to a minimum and making sustainability even easier!
- Reusable Cups: We’re encouraging everyone to bring their reusable Animas River Days cup from previous years—or purchase one at the event! If you purchase an ARD cup, you’ll get a discount on your first beer or beverage. This keeps single-use plastic cups out of the landfill and rewards sustainability.
- Water Refill Stations: We’re cutting down on bottled water waste by providing free water refill stations. Bring your own reusable water bottle and fill up all day long!
How You Can Help
We’re making it easy for festival-goers to go Zero Waste, but we need your help to make it happen! Here’s what you can do:
- Bring your reusable water bottle – We will have water refill stations ready for you.
- Use your ARD cup for beer and beverages – Get a discount and reduce waste at the same time!
- Sort your waste correctly – Follow the signs and ask our Zero Waste Ambassadors if you need help.
- Support our sustainable vendors – Every vendor at ARD is committed to composting & recycling.
Together, we can show that a festival can be both fun and environmentally responsible. Let’s protect the Animas River, reduce our waste, and make 2025 the greenest Animas River Days yet!
