Preparations for the annual Waterford Harvest Festival are underway. Now in its 14th year running, sustainability is at the forefront of this year's event. The festival takes place on the streets and squares of Waterford City centre from September 8th to 10th. Speaking to WLR News, Festival Director, Shona Du Bois, says sustainability is at the centre of the festival's ethos.
"We are delighted to be back this year thanks to Waterford City and County Council. This is GIY'S second year overseeing the festival operations, and we are excited to build on what we did last year.
"For ourselves as an organisation, that is at the heart of what we do. It's our mission for people to connect with food through food growing. Sustainability will be present across the board, as it is an ever-pressing issue.
"This is something that we are proud of for the festival this year. As most people would know, when you have a festival and traders out on the street, a necessity for that is electricity to the trader's stalls. In previous years, all the generators would have been run on Diesel which as we know is harmful to the environment. We should all be looking for ways to try and reduce harmful emissions.
"We have been working with Every Event this year and found an alternative fuel supply known as a Bio-Fuel called Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, which is replacing all the diesel in our generators this year which will reduce our emissions by 90%.
"It will start in John Roberts Square, going up Broad Street, Barronstrand Street, linking up with Arundel Square, and this year we are expanding the footprint trying to make it bigger and better. There will be something planned for every part of the city centre."
For your latest Waterford News and Sport, click here.
