GEAUXING GREEN
Our Sustainability Efforts
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) works year-round to uplift and sustain Louisiana’s cultural resources, but in recent years, we recognized an urgent need to safeguard and nurture our natural resources as well. This understanding means reducing the environmental impact of the cultural celebrations that are such an essential part of life in Louisiana so we can ensure they continue for generations to come. To address this issue, FQFI launched a sustainability initiative for festivals called Geauxing Green in 2021. The program focuses on trash and marine debris prevention, waste diversion, and environmental education.
Since its launch, Geauxing Green has been implemented at eight of our festivals, diverting 284,680 pounds of waste from landfills for an average 44% waste diversion rate. With recycling and composting, we diverted 61.5% of all festival waste at 2024’s Satchmo SummerFest and 44% of 2025’s annual French Quarter Festival waste from landfills. The critical ingredient is the tremendous effort of our Green Team, which includes volunteers who have spent a total of 1,896 hours to date on these important environmental efforts.
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. hit major sustainability milestones last year thanks to both vendor Geauxing Green participation, and attendee + volunteer engagement in our programs. We need YOU to help us continue to geaux greener!
Our Success
- 8 Festivals Strong: Geauxing Green has been implemented at eight of our festivals since its launch.
- 284K Pounds Diverted: Over 284,680 pounds of waste has been kept out of landfills, with an average waste diversion rate of 44%.
- Record Success at Satchmo SummerFest: 61.5% of all waste was recycled or composted at 2024’s event.
- French Quarter Festival Impact: 44% of waste was diverted from landfills at the 2025 annual event (over 71,000 lbs!).
- Green Team Dedication: Our incredible Green Team volunteers have contributed 1,896 hours to these vital environmental efforts.
- Souvenir Cups: Our reusable keepsakes reduce waste, support our programming, and help you cherish the memories.
- Back of House: We continue to improve recycling processes in the ‘Back of House’ at our events for cooking grease, grey water, glass, cardboard, old vinyl signage, merch, and more!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
VOLUNTEER! Volunteer opportunities are open for the upcoming 2025 Satchmo SummerFest, sign up to support our mission today!
ATTEND! All food vendors have committed to using only compostable serveware, and our beverage cups and cans are all recyclable. When at our events, look for these bins around the festival to dispose of your items — our Green Team will be on-site for any questions:
GREEN = Compost your food scraps, compostable plates, forks, and other serveware.
BLUE = Recycle your cans and cups. Only plastics #1 & #2 and aluminum cans are used at our events.
BLACK = Landfill items are non-compostable and non-recyclable waste.
Pro Tip: Ride your bike, take public transit or carpool. Eco-friendly travel makes a difference!
WHY IT MATTERS
Landfill waste and litter from plastics and waste damage wetlands, bayous, and the Mississippi River, impacting wildlife, recreation, and our community’s food sources. Landfills produce methane and pollutants that harm New Orleans’ air and worsen climate change. With your help, we can divert waste, reduce pollution, and support sustainable solutions for Louisiana’s environment.
Renewable Energy Initiatives
French Quarter Festival is stepping up its renewable energy game!
- Solar-powered stage: The Omni Royal Orleans stage (500 Royal Street, Sat/Sun).
- Electric golf carts: Many are now in use.
- Battery Generators: Battery generators (non-diesel) were used in 2025 for the first time!
The Greener Grounds Guide
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. and Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) present the Greener Grounds Guidebook and Workbook, the go-to resource for sustainable event planning in Louisiana. These free guides offer practical tips for reducing waste, increasing recycling, and preventing litter at outdoor events.
JOIN THE GREEN TEAM
Are you passionate about sustainability?
Volunteer with the Green Team and make a real impact! Perfect for schools, environmental groups, and individuals who love clean festivals and healthy waterways. Together, we can make this year our greenest festival yet. Let’s geaux green, NOLA!
Thank you to our sponsors and partners
Thank you to our sponsors and partners for helping us achieve these results that will benefit live events for generations to come.
