Stone Food & Drink Festival

The Stone Food and Drink Festival, Staffordshire’s longest-running gastronomic event, has evolved from its modest beginnings in the High Street and the Crown Hotel ballroom in 2005, into a premier celebration of food and drink. Held annually in July, this festival is organised by a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) with the mission of promoting the town of Stone.

The Festival brings visitors and their spending power to boost local businesses whilst offering a fun and engaging experience for the community. Brown Recycling, a company deeply rooted in Staffordshire and its local community, has been involved in the Festival for over 10 years. This strong partnership culminated in Brown Recycling becoming the Festival’s official sustainability partner in 2024.

The beginning

Former Director, Mick Powell, who had experienced Brown Recycling’s exemplary services at his former place of employment, approached us to handle waste management for the festival. Recognising the potential for improvement, Brown Recycling took on the task, setting out to address some key challenges including encouraging proper waste segregation and, due to the involvement of various suppliers, the need to maintain strict access times and prompt services.

The solutions

Brown Recycling had previously only been engaged for general waste skips, requiring significant manual labour as volunteers had to lift bins into the skips and making the waste process labour-intensive and inefficient.

With the ownership of the whole waste management process, Brown Recycling introduced several key improvements:

• Implemented varied wheelie bins for different types of waste, including general waste, glass, plastic bottles and cans, food waste, and cardboard.
• Installed clear signage to guide festival-goers on proper waste segregation.
• Deployed a dedicated on-site team to assist with waste management and ensure proper segregation.
• Introduced real-time monitoring systems to ensure timely waste collection, and coordination with other on-site suppliers to maintain strict access times and prompt services.
• Sponsorship of reusable pint glasses, reducing plastic waste and encouraging reuse.

Brown Recycling’s total waste management solutions have significantly enhanced the sustainability of the Stone Food and Drink Festival. Over the past 5 years, their recycling efforts have delivered a zero waste to landfill diversion rate every year.

The conclusion

The Stone Food and Drink Festival has grown into a significant event on the Staffordshire calendar, attracting food and drink enthusiasts from across the Midlands. The Festival not only highlights the rich culinary offerings of the region but also demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability, thanks in part to its partnership with Brown Recycling.

The collaboration highlights the positive impact that local businesses can have on community events, ensuring they remain enjoyable and environmentally responsible for years to come. As the festival continues to evolve, its focus on sustainability and community engagement ensures it will remain a beloved tradition in Staffordshire.