Walsh Waste have been supplying the festival since the beginning with a single bin in 1978, this increased with the growth of the festival when they added portable toilets service and waste bins with the arrival of the Big Top to Fisheries Field. That was the beginning of their festival services which has grown over the years along with the Galway Arts festival.
Big Top recyclable cups, tonnes of cardboard and paper to be recycled with Oranmore headquartered recycling company Walsh Waste, ahead of the 42nd Galway International Arts Festival and the return of The People Build to Eyre Square, One Galway company is already thinking about the sustainable clean up.
Having supported the popular People Build since 2017, supplying thousands of cardboard boxes to recreate iconic Galway landscapes. The build sees everyone out building together. Last year Walsh Waste supplied about 4 tonnes of cardboard across two builds, and 100% of this cardboard was recycled.
They are back this year to look at how the festival recovers or recycles the waste generated at the festival. This Years Big Top along with Heineken will be using a fully recyclable cup which is a first.
“We are a long-time festival recycling partner and are committed to ensuring all waste is recovered or recycled. Walsh Waste moved away from using landfill as an outlet for mixed general waste / residual waste in 2011,” explained Managing Director of Walsh Waste, Gerard Walsh.
Now in 2019 Walsh Waste will again support the People Build, after It won the hearts of Festival audiences in 2016 & 2017, French artist, Olivier Grossetête, returns to Galway International Arts Festival with The People Build, a spectacular architectural event that has captured the imagination the world over. Encouraging a sense of community whereby the public can get involved, The People Build will see hundreds of volunteers creating a large-scale and highly ambitious structure solely from cardboard. It will take place from July 19-21 and is entirely free.
This year Grossetête and his team, together with hundreds of volunteers, will help transform cardboard boxes that will replicate an iconic Galway building and will be erected on Eyre Square.
This structure will be assembled on Friday July 19 and Saturday July 20 and as per last year, they will be demolished the day after on Sunday July 21.
“The thousands of cardboard boxes following the demolitions, everyone will be delighted to hear that 100% of the cardboard is recycled. It is our vision to continue providing our customers with the most sustainable recycling options, and in doing so change the way they think about their own recycling practices. We will achieve this through utilising only the most environmentally sound sources of disposal in the market. We are committed to achieving business success while leaving a positive imprint on society,” said Gerard.
It is estimated that almost 2 tonnes of cardboard will be used across the build. Once the structure has been demolished, Walsh Waste & Recycling will be on hand to take away the crushed cardboard to be recycled.
The 42nd Galway International Arts Festival is Ireland’s leading international arts Festival and runs from 15-28 July 2019. See more at www.giaf.ie or at https://www.walshwaste.com/.
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