LANSING, MI – It may be time for the red, white, and blue, but Lansing JazzFest planners are working on the green. This year’s JazzFest, held Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8 on the corner of Turner Street and East Grand River Avenue, will feature a new commitment to ecological sustainability.
“We’re proud to be implementing a variety of efforts this year to promote responsibility to our environment. There have been
organizational changes behind the scenes, as well as hands-on efforts festival guests can participate in,” states Erin Slayter, the JazzFest committee green team leader.
The “green team” itself is a new creation this year, spearheaded by Slayter. The green team has forged partnerships with Schupan Recycling, GoGreen! Lansing, the City of Lansing, Michigan Corn
Marketing Program & Corn Growers Association, The Sweaty Mouse consulting agency, Anvil Knitwear and a team of dedicated volunteers, enabling the festival to upgrade its operations to a more sustainable level.
“Reduce, reuse, and recycle” is the focus. In line with that goal, the City of Lansing has donated two free watering stations for refilling water bottles, rather than buying disposables on site. Green team volunteers will assist festival attendees in sorting their waste for recycling and composting. An additional 30 recycling containers will line the streets. JazzFest’s 300+ volunteers will wear organic T-shirts, reducing chemicals released into the environment. Hundreds of free giveaways will be available to people who pledge to be more responsible to the environment.
“Our efforts this year are tremendous for a first-year attempt – and of course we’ll be looking into ways to continue to green the festival going into the future,” says Slayter.
With expanded programming, a fledgling green initiative, new strategic partnerships and more exciting announcements to come in the following weeks, the Lansing JazzFest is growing to support the quality of life
for members of all communities.
