Nearly 1,200 festivalgoers were educated on the issue, and 320 kg of camping gear was collected for reuse: during the 2026 edition of Les Vieilles Charrues, Ecomaison, Ecologic, and the Ti Recup’ recycling center tested a practical solution to extend the life of camping gear left behind after the festival.
The Essentials
- Nearly 1,200 festivalgoers learned about reuse and recycling during the four-day festival.
- 320 kilograms of items in good condition were collected for reuse.
- Items in good condition will be offered at a community-based price by the Ti Recup’ recycling center in Carhaix.
Raise awareness among festivalgoers about reuse and recycling
Every summer, the Vieilles Charrues festival brings together tens of thousands of festivalgoers in Carhaix, in Finistère, for several days of concerts. It’s not only a major musical event but also a veritable pop-up town, complete with campgrounds and the many items of equipment brought along for the occasion: tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, chairs, tables, and canopies.
This variety of items explains why the two environmental organizations are working together. Ecomaison handles furniture and bedding—such as chairs, camping tables, and air mattresses—while Ecologic focuses on sports and recreational equipment. Alongside them, the Ti Recup’ reuse center contributes its local expertise in reuse.
For festivalgoers, the first step is to better identify reuse and recycling options and to understand that a tent, a chair, or a mattress isn’t meant to become trash once the festival is over.
Throughout the event, Ecomaison and Ecologic engaged with festivalgoers in the camping village. Through quizzes, games about proper sorting practices, and discussions with the public, nearly 1,200 people were educated over the course of four days about reusing and recycling camping and recreational equipment—and, more broadly, household items.
A fundraiser held at the end of the festival
As the festival came to a close, it was time for the cleanup. Trained in waste sorting, volunteers and staff members of Les Vieilles Charrues helped identify which items could still be used and which needed to be sent for recycling.
“Just a few years ago, campsites were littered with large amounts of equipment left behind after the event. Today, thanks to the collective efforts of various stakeholders, we’re seeing increasingly better results in terms of cleanliness and waste reduction. This collaboration with Ecomaison, Ecologic, and Ti Recup’ reinforces this momentum and allows us to go even further.” Quentin SIBERIL, CSR Manager at Les Vieilles Charrues.
320 kilograms of items donated to Ti Recup’ for reuse
During the 2026 edition of the Vieilles Charrues festival, Ecomaison, Ecologic, and Ti Recup’ collected 320 kg of items in good condition: camping gear, mattresses, sports equipment, and gardening supplies. Based in Carhaix, the reuse center will now be able to offer these items at affordable prices, allowing them to continue their journey with new users.
“The partnership with Les Vieilles Charrues was a very rewarding first experience. It would be interesting to continue it next year by setting up a drop-off area for the Ti Recup’ recycling center and raising public awareness about reuse during the festival.” Yann Lebail, Director of the Ti Recup’ recycling center
Equipment that could no longer be reused was sent to the appropriate recycling channels thanks to the additional efforts of Ecomaison and Ecologic.
“By combining awareness-raising among festivalgoers with collection, reuse, and recycling, we are demonstrating that it is possible to give a second life to equipment that would otherwise have been discarded. This joint initiative opens up exciting opportunities for expanding this type of program at major events and festivals.” Valentin Detail, Project Manager for Innovative Sports Collection Programs, Ecologic.
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- 1200
Festivalgoers were made aware of the importance of reuse and recycling during the four days of the festival
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- 320
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items in good condition collected for reuse
The festival: a testing ground for the circular economy
Beyond the volume of materials collected, this initial initiative demonstrates that a festival can serve as a very practical setting for testing new approaches to raising awareness, collection, and reuse.
The partnership between Ecomaison, Ecologic, Les Vieilles Charrues, and Ti Recup’ helps connect the various links in the chain: informing festivalgoers, identifying items that are still usable, organizing their collection, promoting their local reuse, and directing other items to the appropriate recycling channels. It’s a very practical way to bring the circular economy to major events: raising awareness during the festival and giving items a second chance at life! “The collaboration between the festival, the environmental organizations, and Ti Recup’ has borne fruit. It’s a wonderful initiative that’s set to expand in the coming years to other large-scale cultural events,” concludes Mael Lhostis, Regional Development Manager for the Atlantic Center at Ecomaison.
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