Since its inception a dozen year ago, LobsterFest has become one of the biggest, most beloved and fun parties in town.
This Saturday, 1,500 folks of all ages will celebrate at Compo Beach. (Don’t have a ticket? You’re out of luck. They sold out in hours, in July.)
LobsterFesters will eat lobster and steak (plus a lot more). They’ll drink beer and soda. They’ll dance to a great band. They’ll rock the town.
They’ll also generate tons — literally — of waste.
All those people will leave behind lots of lobster tails, food scraps, beer cups, cutlery, napkins, even peppermint patty wrappers.
Lots of food at LobsterFest. (Photo/Dan Woog)
But it won’t be left for long. The Westport Rotary Club — sponsors of the bash, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy organizations here and around the world — puts as much effort into cleaning up as they do to organizing LobsterFest, and handing out grants.
Which is to say: a lot.
Yet for all its trash, LobsterFest might be the most sustainable big event in Westport.
For several years the Rotary Club has partnered with Sustainable Westport to reduce waste, protect natural resources, and encourage environmental practices at the party, and long after.
Last year, for example, the groups worked with Curbside Compost to divert 1.5 tons — yes, tons — of waste.
Recycling, at the 2023 LobsterFest. (Photo/Dan Woog)
They’ll do the same this Saturday — but even better. They’ll put 300 bins everywhere, to collect small items like the rubber bands from lobsters, candy wrappers, empty butter tubs, cole slaw containers and the rest, ensuring it’s separated from compost scraps.
That’s huge. In the past, any lobsters put in compost with rubber bands still attached contaminated the entire bin.
Look for — and use — these 300 bins.
Also new: compostable utensils and cutlery. All those knives, forks and more will be accepted by Curbside Compost, along with food.
And for the first time, LobsterFest will have on-site recycling, for aluminum cans and bottles. They’ll be redeemed by Scout Troops 39 and 139, who as reward for their work will receive 10 cents each.
But none of those ideas will work without our help.
Westport Rotary and Sustainable Westport advise LobsterFest-goers:
- Take only what you truly need. If you know you won’t eat 2 lobsters, don’t take 2!
- Use proper receptacles for your waste. Food, paper napkins and cardboard trays can all be composted. Separate them correctly! (Put cans and bottles in the right ones too.)
- If you get another beer, bring the same cup back for a refill. Better yet, bring your own from home.
And what about all that leftover food?
It does not go to waste. Extra lobster and steak is sold by the Rotary Club at the end of the day (7 p.m.). Anyone is welcome to purchase dinner for the week.
Lobsters for all.
The green initiative started several years ago, with Tony McDowell. The executive director of Earthplace and a Rotarian, he was also a member of the Green Task Force — the predecessor of Sustainable Westport.
Alex Cohen is the Westport Rotary Club’s LobsterFest chair. “I have 2 little kids,” he says. “My goal is help Westport be as green and nice as it can be. This is a great way to help.”
Pippa Bell Ader and Alex Cohen, with their reusable mugs. (Photo/Dan Woog)
He is always looking for new ideas.
For example, they’d love to get rid of their generators. Last year, McMahon Ford lent a Lightning electric truck, to power the band.
Sustainable Westport co-leader Pippa Bell Ader adds, “A lot of events in town don’t recycle. They just throw their garbage out. Westport Rotary really takes this to heart.”
She hopes LobsterFest can be a model for other organizations. To help compost, Sustainable Westport lends out zero-waste composting stations.
This Saturday afternoon will be another great LobsterFest.
And on Sunday morning, you won’t see a stray lobster claw, tray or peppermint patty anywhere on Compo Beach.
NOTE: All of that recycling — and every other element of LobsterFest — takes work. Volunteers are still needed. To help, click here.
(To learn more about composting, recycling, and how to make your at-home event even more sustainable, click here.
