Nothing is worse than using a port-o-potty at a crowded festival. However, at this Danish fest, you\’ll at least be able to say your pee went to good use.
Roskilde took place last weekend in Zealand, Denmark, and launched a very unique sustainability initiative. It\’s known as \”From piss to pilsner,\” and their goal is to collect over 25,000 liters (6,600 gallons) of urine from its 100,000 attendees. The festival hosted Florence and the Machine, Paul McCartney, and Pharrell Williams this year, among others. According to the original story from the Guardian, Roskilde is the biggest festival in Northern Europe.
\”The huge amount of urine produced at festivals was having a negative impact on the environment and the sewage system,\” says Lief Nielsen from the Danish Agriculture & Food Council (DFAC). \”But beercycling will turn the urine into a resource.\” The plan is to use the urine to fertilize barley to create beer, which will then be served at the festival in 2017.
Festival goers have been very supportive of the idea. \”It\’s funny and it encourages you to use the urinals rather than just going in the grass or wherever you are. Roskilde festival has a reputation for being pretty green and clean but this is a whole other level,\” says one attendee. Women are encouraged to participate too – they were giving away free cardboard \’urine directors\’ next to the urinals.
The organizers hope that the initiative will help with the massive waste generated at festivals. They also hope that getting music involved will help spread their message of sustainability. The festival is also selling organic beers, spirits, and mixers in recycled plastic cups to promote the cause. Visit Roskilde\’s website here and read the full story from the Guardian.
