Trash for tickets: The Lalaland way to rid Goa of rubbish

Garbage management in Goa is a bit like dealing with the irritating uncle. Everyone knows there is a problem but no one seems to know how to handle it. The LaLaLand festival has tried something innovative by offering trash for tickets. The response has been very positive
Trash for tickets: The Lalaland way to rid Goa of rubbish
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 The formula is simple. One of the ways to get tickets for this unique ‘magic and happiness, circus and madness’ is just this-haul your rubbish, deposit it and eureka, you get your festival ticket for November 8 and 9

The ticketing concept is part of the Trash4Cash program, an initiative by festival director Noreen van Holstein, who is curating her third Lalaland festival in Goa

Noreen informed that this was part of a long term plan and she decided to initiate the program with the weapons in her hand – the tickets. The idea was simple. Trash = Value = Ticket. With collected trash, everyone can buy a one-day festival ticket worth of Rs 499. Just collect 15 old newspapers and 20 empty cigarette or chips packs (clean) and bring these to the selected Trash4Cash collection. They allocated five days to collect trash, of which, four days have already been done. The trash was collected on October 24 at Sensible Earth, Defence Colony, Porvorim (next to Design Centre), October 25 at Kadence Xperience Store, Panjim (next to Old Patto bridge), October 26 at Decathlon, Calangute and on October 27 at Artjuna in Anjuna.

Two weeks before, they organised a collection point at Green Meadows School in Nagoa. They intend to have one more on November 5 between 12 pm and 5 pm at Decathlon, Calangute. Noreen said the concept is very simple and can be taken forward by the relevant authorities for long term energy programmes. Certain type of garbage, she said, could even mean a discount on one’s insurance, but that would be sometime in the future.

Precursors to trash for tickets: Trash for beverages

Noreen said they had set up a waste bar on the beach in Calangute where they encouraged tourists to bring in their garbage and deposit it at the bar. In return, they were given alcoholic beverages. It was very well received and the trash for cash initiative meant the collection of newspapers, cigarette packets and clean chips packets. These waste materials are being reused and attractive design lamps are being created by the established Goan artist Waylon D’souza. Of course, the lamps will be for sale, contributing to the circular model.

The focus is on sustainability with loads of fun involved. LaLaLand is a big carnival, with music and mirth

Two days, twenty plus acts and three stages will entertain. Acts as diverse as Madhav Haridas, Tritha Electric, Nadia Rebello, Thalavattam Monty, Mansi Nene, Uncut Diamonds and Oliver Perrin will entertain visitors. There will also be circus and acrobats a silent disco, world cuisine, a family corner and a secret bar.

Herald Goa
www.heraldgoa.in