How to Practice Sustainability at Bass Coast (And Beyond)
Written by Mark McNulty
It takes hard work to host an enormous music festival in the middle of the woods without leaving any waste behind, but Bass Coast in Merritt, British Columbia (BC), Canada strives to make it easier, for both attendees and crew.
Bass Coast is a 6,500-person independent music festival in the southern BC interior, twice awarded 'Best Boutique Festival in North America' by DJ Mag and 'Best Midsize Festival in Canada' by the Canada Music Awards. Curated by Andrea Graham aka The Librarian and Max Ulis, the lineup is of course stupendous. But Bass Coast hasn’t earned these accolades for music alone. Excellence at the event extends beyond the music to things like harm reduction, cultural respect, and sustainability.
Photographer: Lung Liu
Sustainability is the ability to maintain a process continuously over time. For a festival to be successful in the long run, it must be sustainable (or have gobs of money). At events, this means being intentional about waste and not damaging the ecosystem. This is the 16th edition of Bass Coast. They have longevity in part because they don’t pollute the land.
Plus, no one wants to leave a set all elevated only to see piles of trash everywhere. You may realize your fun is coming at the expense of something larger, and begin to question the vibes. So here are some pointers to help you understand the ethos at Bass Coast, and put sustainability into practice.
“Visitors on the Land”
Bass Coast acknowledges that it’s located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Nłeʔkepmxc or Nlaka’pamux (pronounced Ng-khla-kap-muhx) and Syilx people. The word “Nłeʔkepmxc” means “people of the creek,” according to the Lower Nicola Indian Band, one of five bands that live in and around the town known as Merritt. These indigenous or first peoples have lived for thousands of years along the Thompson and Nicola Rivers without significantly damaging the ecosystem. Surely party goers can keep it together for one weekend, in BC or anywhere else.
One of the best ways to manage waste is to create as little as possible. That starts by keeping camp waste organized. We’ve all hung out at that one haggard campsite before, and it can throw off the vibe. Plus, it’s easier to clean your site if you don’t let it get dirty!
Learn how to identify and sort your waste, including compost, returnables, specialty recycling, and landfill. Use black bags for trash and clear bags for recycling. If you run out, grab bags at the Eco Hub next to the Main Stage. Bass Coast tries to divert as much waste from landfills as possible, and your actions can make that easier or more challenging. Last year, the festival reduced landfill waste by 12% compared to 2022, according to their 2023 Sustainability Highlights. Each campground has bin stations and a Recycling Depot (marked with ♻ symbols on the map). Know where they are. When you depart, MOOP your site!
The Eco Hub is open 8:00am to 8:00pm. Drop off your specialist recycling (butts, batteries, propane tanks), wash reusable containers or cutlery, ask questions, and connect with super chill crew members.
One thing you’ll find at Bass Coast that you can’t always find elsewhere are pocket ashtrays. In 2019 at Shambhala, we introduced you to Jack Elliman of Brain Garden who invented them. They extinguish your cigarette butt and lock in the smell. You can purchase one at the Bass Coast General Store, and outreach staff will be distributing some. Empty them at the "Butt Ballot" at the Eco-Hub! If you want to join Jack’s butt patrol team at Bass Coast or get involved with Brain Garden in general, reach out here.
Bass Coast food vendors and bars are equipped to allow the use of reusable containers. So bring your own spork, bowl, and resealable mug for those Thai noodles or that granola cola. On a cold BC night after days of yelling in front of speaker stacks, nothing hits like a hot tea. But you can’t really boogie holding one of those spill-prone single use cups, so bring your own! Get one with a hook so you can hang it on a shoulder bag or belt.
Everyone’s got their own water bottle these days if only to stay hydrated, which is essential. Even Coachella cut out single-use bottles in 2023. Try extending that practice to food. At Bass Coast, I’ll have my own utensils and dishes for the first time. Bring a flash light instead of glow sticks, borrow instead of buying new (see the Buyarchy of Needs), and avoid packaging in the first place by buying bulk items and bringing them in your own containers.
Bass Coast sits on the Coldwater River. “It is a precious resource, and our rivers are constantly threatened by temperature and human intervention,” says Ruth Tolerton from the Lower Nicola Indian Band. “Please do your utmost to act with respect and responsibility toward our water."
It’s one of the most important systems in the larger Nicola watershed for wildlife like Fraser River chinook salmon, Interior Fraser coho, Thompson steelhead, and bull trout. Spawning Chinook and Steelhead were at record lows in 2018 in the watershed and both populations have been recommended for listing as endangered, according to Bass Coast.
Keep contaminants out of the river. I’ve heard some people who attend bass music festivals never use soap anyway, but if you do, don’t use it in the river! Reserve that for the showers at Camp B. Dispose of your dish water (“gray water”) at least 100 feet (about 35-40 adult paces) away from water sources. Here are tips for that process.
The pollution generated by a music festival includes the emissions everyone expends to get there, so consider how you can arrive with the least impact possible. If have to fly from the states, consider a carpool from Vancouver or Kelowna before a rental. The Bass Coast Ride Share Facebook group is always abuzz with activity (maybe bump my post while you’re there).
While BC is pretty rural, there are public transit options available. Bass Coast recommends Ebus. I’m arriving via BC Transit from Kamloops (but heads up, BC Transit doesn’t run every route every day, so check in advance). The best part of public transportation in BC? You can stare at the stunning scenery instead of the road. If you are driving, here are the directions to Bass Coast.
Festivals offer a unique opportunity to make changes. People are already feeling inspired and breaking away from the day-to-day. Build on that unique energy and embrace the Bass Coast sustainability ethos. We promise you’ll have a better time there (and everywhere) if you do.
Carry these sustainability practices to other festivals. For one thing, you’ll instantly become cooler if you tell people you picked them up at Bass Coast. For more tips, check out the Bass Coast First-Timer’s Guide and stay chooned for more of our pre-coverage.
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