Eco Fest wrapped up their 7th annual event back in May, but for them, their season is just ramping up.
Eco Fest news release:
Eco Fest brings their ‘Zero Waste Station’ to local events
Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 25, 2026) – Eco Fest wrapped up their 7th annual event back in May, but for them, their season is just ramping up. Eco Fest discovered how to make their own event more sustainable by coming up with a different approach to waste management. Instead of setting bins throughout the venue and letting attendees make the call on whether their items that need to be disposed of are trash, recycling, or compost, Eco Fest staff are doing it for them. “The problem with the traditional approach is that even if you add recycling or compost bins to your event, not everyone has the same knowledge about how items need to be sorted.” Executive Director Addie Farris shares. Food ends up in recycling, things that can be recycled end up in the trash, and overall more items end up in the landfills than what needs to be.
The concept, dubbed the “Zero Waste Station” worked so well, that the organization decided to start bringing it to other events. “It made sense for us to expand, especially to other Headwaters Festivals because we use the same venue and follow a similar format.” After reaching out to some other local festivals, the message was clear: a different approach to waste at festivals was a welcomed change.
This summer Eco Fest will bring their Zero Waste Station to several Headwaters Park festivals like Arab Fest, Germanfests’ Famlienfest, VetFest and Fiesta Fort Wayne. Other events include SolFest at Metea Park, and Open Streets in downtown Fort Wayne.
And the impact? The numbers speak for themselves. After 4 events, the weight totals are:
- Compost – 347.4 lbs.
- Recycling – 326.5 lbs.
- Trash – 182.2 lbs.
Eco Fest is looking for volunteers to join their committee to aid in developing the station for continued growth, as well as staff to work events. To inquire, email hello@ecofestfw.com
Related Images:
