Why can't people take their rubbish home?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (373494)
Rockingham, Australia
January 12, 2026 12:33am CST
A recent news article I read recently told of a music festival held in New South Wales. People were able to camp at the site but, the day after the concert, the whole area was a shambles. Tents, sleeping bags, unopened food, chairs – people had just left all sorts of stuff behind. When there is so much poverty in the world and so many people doing it tough, it blows my mind that people would be so wasteful.
Apparently, once the stuff has been cleaned up, anything usable is donated to charities to distribute amongst the needy. At least that’s something I guess. Some people just have too much money.
The photo is of two performers at a festival we went to.
22 people like this
22 responses
@DaddyEvil (169468)
• United States
12 Jan
That's what happens here, too. Anything useable left behind gets donated to charities.
I once asked a friend why he didn't take his stuff (two camping chairs and sleeping bags) home with him afterward. He told me he'd bought the stuff just for the concert and didn't need it anymore. 
I agree, they have too much money and don't care what happens with most of it.
I agree, they have too much money and don't care what happens with most of it.6 people like this
@DaddyEvil (169468)
• United States
12 Jan
@JudyEv Yes, I have friends like that, too. It doesn't make sense to me.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (167980)
• United States
13 Jan
@JudyEv I have worked too hard for my money to behave that way, and I respect beautiful parks and want them kept beautiful.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (373494)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Jan
@GardenGerty Me too. I would be taking everything home with me.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (494838)
• Italy
12 Jan
This photo of the two young performers is beautiful.
It is a shame! I remember that in Switzerland twice a year the population joined to clean the parks after the tourists had left. Good to enjoy a clean country, but it would be nice and polite to keep it clean.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (373494)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jan
When we had the concerts on our little farm, I was worried about having to clean up next day but I think I found one bottle-top. Of course, we only had 100 people maximum and most of them were known to us. They weren't young either, not that that makes much difference.
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (215673)
• United States
12 Jan
That's a pity. I'm sure it happens at most festivals.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (167980)
• United States
13 Jan
I am glad the remains get cleaned and donated. There are lots of people who would be grateful.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (373494)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Jan
At least that's some good that comes out of such an event.
@dfollin (27217)
• United States
12 Jan
When I was an older child and teenager we used to go to bluegrass festivals and people would camp out but mostly clean up behind them selves. There were usually workers that would walk around handing out trash bags and wouldn't let people leave until their area was cleaned up. Oh sure! There was still some junk and trash still there but not as much because it was manned. People should clean up behind themselves! Wonder why they would leave good stuff behind? Oh well! That stuff went to good use!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (373494)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Jan
The recent festivals we've been to have handed out garbage bags. It's been older people mostly but they can still be untidy and messy.
@Fleura (34271)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan
@JudyEv Things like tents are so relatively cheap nowadays that they are considered disposable by many people and they don't want to go to the trouble of packing them up again and carrying their stuff home. People are always complaining about the cost of living and yet things like this are far cheaper than they used to be and maybe they should be more expensive!
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (21673)
• United States
13 Jan
That's terrible that people do that. I would take my stuff home.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1534)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
12 Jan
i watched the documentary where people went to some religious sites and left garabage too. i mean, they went there to pray. it was a horrible sight.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (1534)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
16 Jan
@JudyEv i agree. what's the point in coming there then.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (10125)
• Philippines
12 Jan
I think it will be helpful if they put a CLAYGO sign, or if they instruct the people on some rules to be observed during and after the concert, it will help. Or they can't do that because they are rich people? it might offend the rich?
But Iam glad something was donated to charity.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (373494)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Jan
If you have rules then you need people to enforce the rules. There were probably signs up here and there but I guess people just ignored them.
@FourWalls (83673)
• United States
12 Jan
I don’t understand it, but we are a throwaway society (as you tagged it). My parents and grandparents couldn’t have imagined any such thing, after dealing with the Depression and rationing for two world wars!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95038)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jan
What I would have loved to see how the place where Woodstock Festival happened looked after everyone went home, Then I search it and this is what it says
However, it was also noted that piles of garbage remained weeks after the event, highlighting the challenges of managing waste at such a large gathering
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14328)
• Ireland
12 Jan
@judyev Such waste is reprehensible. Some folk just expect others to pick up after them. Maybe I lean too far the other way - in hotels I always tidy and clean the room before the staff get there to do it because I’d be ashamed to leave the place in a mess with dirty clothes etc lying on the floor along with wet towels.
1 person likes this
