Waste sorting after Queerfest 2025

After a successful Queerfest 2025 on 22 November, with around 700 ticket-holders, artists and crew enjoying this wonderful annual event, a team of College volunteers sorted all the waste to ensure that recyclables and food waste were captured in the waste stream.

The process included weighing all waste to understand how much was produced, to inform the setting of reduction targets for future large student-led events in College. We captured 33kg of recyclables and 25kg of food waste from the total waste - 120kg. Recyclables are sent to a recycling plant for processing and food waste is used locally to generate electricity.

This was the first waste-sorting operation undertaken in the College after a large student-led event and is one of the many new initiatives across Wadham to reduce our environmental impact and safeguard natural resources. We will continue to work very hard on reducing waste and recycling more. Further sustainability initiatives are already planned for Wadstock 2026.

Frances Lloyd, Director of Sustainability, said:

“I’m proud to see Wadham leading the way on the on-site waste sorting process following this large student event organised by the SU Entz team. This new initiative demonstrates strong commitment to taking meaningful action and supports our active progress towards a net zero future.”