It's not easy being green
ComFest volunteers fill the three days reducing 'footprint' for a clean park
By Alan Johnson
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
In nearly four decades, the Community Festival has always been concerned with the "footprint" it leaves on the environment - even a bare foot in the mud.Put simply, ComFest says: "No Planet, No Party."
The festival that began in 1972 near Ohio State University was powered by the youthful idealism of the civil-rights movement, opposition to the Vietnam War, and "Earth Day" concerns for the environment.
That emphasis continues today as organizers struggle to cope with the giant footprint ComFest leaves - an estimated 21tons of cans, bottles, glass, plastic, cardboard and food waste.
Early yesterday, before the music started on six stages, the beer spigots began pouring and the staple "fish boats" sandwiches were cooking, volunteers clad in green T-shirts combed the 40-acre park to collect trash and recyclables."We are very aware of the impact a festival like this has on the landscape," said Connie Everett, an organizer of the all-volunteer event. "Recycling and cleanup are very important to us."
But it's not easy being green. That's where Brandi Kegley comes in.
As head of the cleanup committee, Kegley will work more than 30hours in three days, directing the efforts of 350 volunteers.
"Volunteering makes the festival happen," she said. "You have to be willing to do the dirty work.."
Kegley, 28, has a lot on her plate in addition to ComFest. She works at an Olive Garden restaurant, is a yoga therapist and has a rescue dog, Optimus. After eight years as a ComFest volunteer, she will soon leave Columbus to start a holistic wellness center in Colorado.
She said keeping the 160-year old park clean is only part of the job. Recycling is the other task; ComFest attacks it with passion.
Patrons are encouraged to help by separating cans, plastic and nonrecyclable trash. Bins are also available for organic food waste - about one ton of it.
Mike Minnix, who bills himself as president and chief Dumpster-diver for Eartha Limited, a Columbus recycling company, said his company will take the food waste to a composting facility, where it will be mixed with yard waste, wood chips and other material, and made into soil mulch.
Thousands of wine bottles will be collected by Eartha, destined for a group called Candles with a Cause, Minnix said. The tops of the bottles will be cut off and the bottoms made into candles to be sold to area restaurants.
Kegley said ComFest uses beer cups made of corn-based material for easier recycling and fills water bottles on site, free, to avoid overuse of plastic.
And those footprints in the mud? They're covered with mulch.
It's an exhausting three days for all ComFest volunteers, especially the cleanup crews.
"It's a great way to work with people in my community," Kegley said. "The reward for me is knowing I am a part of something that brings everyone together."
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