1. Take the bus

Public transport is a great way to minimize your carbon footprint. Most major live events taking place in Ireland occur in Dublin, public transport is the most effective way to traverse the city be it a bus, train, or the LUAS. The cost of public transport is not as expensive as you think, booking a student train ticket a week in advance can save you almost ten euro, less than the price of fuel and parking in the nation’s capital.

2. Leave the poncho at the stall

Irish weather is as unpredictable as it gets so it is always a good idea to pack wet gear. If you have ever been to an outdoor event in Ireland, you always see vendors selling their wares outside the entrance ways. One item always for sale is plastic ponchos, the ponchos are made of thin plastic and are infamous for ripping and tearing when being put on. If you are fortunate enough to get the poncho on without breaking, they are usually torn off at the first sight of the sun. The ponchos are single use by design and are seen littering the fields after the crowds disperse causing bins full of waste. Maybe just remember your coat next time.

3. Music first, drinks after

The main cause of event litter is unquestionably the plastic pint glasses served at live events. The glasses are barely single use at times depending on what concert you are attending, where pints are used as projectiles (akin to England football fans celebrating a late winner). To be a more eco-friendly attendee, ignore the Heineken tents on the grounds, go to the pub beforehand and have a supply on hand after the concert ends, not only will it save you from the extortionate prices and long queues, but you will also be abstaining from the weight of relying on single use plastic and the clean-up that comes with it.

4. Re-use your tents.

Although many festival goers have seen the light and continue to pack up and re-use their tents for the festivals ahead, it is not a common practice worldwide. Tents can be expensive and are designed to be reusable. Be it from laziness, haziness or failure to plan ahead, tents have equated to a significant percentage of waste retrieved during festival clean up. Re-using your tent, sleeping bags and other accessories saves the festival goer a considerable amount of money as well as not contributing to the land fill left behind by festivals attended by hundreds of thousands of people each year.

5. Keep your ticket on your phone.

Eliminate paper production and paper waste by requesting your ticket via email. This can save money on postage fees and eliminate the possibility of losing the ticket in the weeks or months prior to the event. Even though it seems like a small issue, in the wider scope it can make a significant difference. Looking at the quantity of concert goers, tens of thousands of tickets must be printed and posted to gain them all access to the event. By choosing to receive your ticket via email you can play your small part in reducing the need for paper tickets and usher in a more convenient and eco-friendly way of gaining access to your favorite acts.