Thousands of tents and large amounts of rubbish were left behind following this year’s Reading Festival, raising concerns about waste management at the event. The festival, held over the August bank holiday at Little John’s Farm in Berkshire, attracted more than 100,000 attendees.

Drone footage captured shortly after the site was vacated revealed extensive debris, including piles of food packaging, broken tents, sleeping bags, and inflatable mattresses. Officials noted that while the volume of waste had decreased compared to the previous year, a significant portion of it—approximately 10 percent—consisted of abandoned tents.

Festival Republic, the organizer responsible for both Reading and Leeds festivals, reported that 702 tonnes of waste were produced in 2024, down from 780 tonnes in 2023. The annual reduction suggests some progress in waste management, but discarded camping equipment remains a persistent issue.

Reading Borough Council, which reviews a report on the event each year, continues to monitor the environmental impact and urges festival-goers to take responsibility for their belongings. Organizers have encouraged attendees to remove their items from the site or to use designated donation points available on location. These donation points accept damaged or unused items such as clothes and camping gear, which are then distributed to charitable organizations.

Efforts to decrease waste at large-scale festivals remain central to event planning, with both local authorities and festival operators emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices among attendees. The cleanup challenges following the Reading Festival underscore the ongoing need for increased awareness and participation in environmental stewardship.