(Washington, DC) – The 2016 Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival, an all-day festival featuring local musicians, will be the first zero waste* music festival in the District.  Festivalgoers will be encouraged to use the multi-bin zero waste stations to meet the goal of diverting 80%* or better of all waste, recycling and composting. The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), the Department of Public Works (DPW), and volunteer coordination by event host Living Classrooms are providing guidance to help achieve the 80% goal. The Festival is Saturday, April 30, 2016 on Kingman Island.

To achieve this goal, the three organizations are taking the following steps:

• Distributing reusable drinking cups to all attendees and requesting that all outside food brought by participants be in reusable containers.
• Requiring all food vendors to use only compostable food service ware, i.e. plates, bowls, and cups.
• Designing onsite signage and messaging to support maximum recycling and composting.
• Designing and managing zero waste stations—multi-bin waste, compost, and recycling collection systems – that will be positioned throughout the venue. Recruiting and training zero waste station volunteers.
• Measuring and reporting the results of the event’s waste diversion and recovery efforts.

Now in its seventh year, the Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival has grown to become the largest all local music festival in the National Capital Region, attracting over 13,000 people.

“The Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival will be the first special event where DPW will provide composting services. We are delighted to support the Festival’s educational goal and to use this opportunity to advance our zero waste* target through composting, recycling and waste diversion among event attendees,” said DPW Director Christopher Shorter.

“The Festival plays an important role in giving residents from across the region the chance to enjoy and marvel at the amazing Anacostia River at Kingman Island,” said DOEE Director Tommy Wells. “It provides a unique opportunity to explore local habitats and wildlife along the river, and to learn about what the District is doing to protect these critical natural resources.”

About the Department of Public Works
The Department of Public Works (DPW) mission is to provide environmentally healthy municipal services that are both ecologically sound and cost effective. DPW provides essential city services in two distinct program areas: environmental services/solid waste management and parking enforcement. Both contribute to making our District streets and public spaces clean, safe, attractive and accessible for all residents, businesses, commuters and visitors. The Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival will be the first time DPW has provided food waste composting services for a special event.

About the Department of Energy and Environment
The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) is the leading authority on energy and environmental issues affecting the District of Columbia. Using a combination of regulations, outreach, education, and incentives, our agency administers programs and services to fulfill our mission. We work collaboratively with other government agencies, residents, businesses, and institutions to promote environmentally responsible behavior that will lead to a more sustainable urban environment.

About Living Classrooms
Living Classrooms is a non-profit organization which provides outdoor environmental education experiences to public school students in Washington DC and Baltimore, MD as well as on Kingman Island. Living Classrooms Foundation strengthens communities and inspires young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training, using urban, natural, and maritime resources as “living classrooms.”

About Kingman Island
Kingman and Heritage Islands are located in the middle of Anacostia River, which runs through the eastern half of Washington, DC. The islands provide a beautiful area in Washington, DC for people of all ages to learn about the natural environment. For detailed information about the Festival and how to get there, go to http://www.kingmanislandbluegrass.com/bio/. Kingman Island is at 575 Oklahoma Avenue, NE, 20002. It is accessible by streetcar, Metrorail, bike and car.

*DC is required to develop a zero waste plan as a requirement of the Sustainable Solid Waste Management Amendment Act of 2014. The Act defines the target of the zero waste plan as 80% diversion from waste-to-energy and landfill.