Turning trash to trees with record result

Woodford Folk Festival 2025–26 saved a record-breaking 120,000 containers from landfill, smashing the previous year's collection of 90,000 containers.

Partnering with Containers for Change, Woodfordia, which runs the folk festival, recycled more than 340,000 containers since 2022.

Woodfordia has reinvested more than $34,000 in 10-cent refunds into its environmental programs; funding on-site conservation, nursery operations, Treehuggers and Conservatree projects.

More than 200 Containers for Change collection bins were placed at the festival site this year, with all eligible containers processed by Express Recycling at their Burpengary depot.

Woodfordia Site Manager Chris Shervey said this year’s record was driven by improved waste operations and the commitment of festivalgoers and volunteers.

“Thank you to our loyal festivalgoers for doing the right thing and more than 110 Garbology volunteers who put their heart into helping patrons recycle correctly,” Mr Shervey said.

“From our ‘Container Reclaimers’ retrieving misplaced containers, to our ‘Magpies’ guiding people to use the correct bins, every volunteer helped make this our most successful year.”

Trevor Evans, Interim CEO of not-for-profit organisation Container Exchange said the festival had shown how container recycling can integrate into major events.

“Woodfordia is a standout example of how out-of-home container collections can create real environmental, social and economic impact,” Mr Evans said.

“By turning container refunds into on-ground conservation projects, Woodfordia is closing the loop in a very tangible way.”

Nikki Mullen, Manager at Express Recycling, said: “Woodfordia genuinely leads by example when it comes to sustainability.

"Their systems, volunteers and culture make large-scale recycling work."

Photos by Woodford Folk Festival Photography Team