Why can't people take their rubbish home?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (368983)
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.
17 people like this
18 responses
@DaddyEvil (165521)
• United States
12h
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.5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (165521)
• United States
11h
@JudyEv Yes, I have friends like that, too. It doesn't make sense to me.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (490586)
• Italy
16h
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.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (368983)
• Rockingham, Australia
11h
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.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (210559)
• United States
14h
That's a pity. I'm sure it happens at most festivals.
2 people like this
@LooeyVille (64)
• United States
15h
Same thing happens here every year at The Kentucky Derby and the Thunder over Louisville fireworks display
2 people like this
@dfollin (27009)
• United States
1h
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!
@FourWalls (81810)
• United States
4h
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!
@RasmaSandra (92828)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3h
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
@xFiacre (14102)
• Ireland
5h
@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.
@sallypup (67539)
• Centralia, Washington
4h
I can still hear my Mom: "you pack it in, you pack it out."
@valherma00 (390)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
2h
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.
@luisadannointed (10077)
• Philippines
9h
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.
@Fleura (33343)
• United Kingdom
6h
You should see the aftermath of the annual Glastonbury festival!!
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/glastonbury/glastonbury-2025-cleanup-photos-litter-tents-b2780122.html
@Shiva49 (27786)
• Singapore
9h
I read about how conscious Japanese still are when it comes to cleaning up after themselves after an event.
I read about how Australians too were very keen to keep their neighbourhoods clean when I was young.
My uncle was in Sydney under a Colombo Plan scholarship for engineering back in md Fifities.
I have some postcards I received from him when I was young.
Maybe, the younger generation seem to take things for granted .
There is enough food for everyone provided we don't waste it wantonly.
"Criminal waste" is mentioned when it comes to wasting food!
