From Festival Fencing to a Veterans’ Garden: How Radio 1’s Big Weekend Turned Used Event Materials into Social Impact

Radio 1’s Big Weekend is one of the most visible festivals in the UK, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and broadcasting nationwide. But behind the scenes of the music, lights and energy lies a challenge every event faces: what happens to all of the event materials used to make it happen? 

Sure, some items go back to hire. Some get necessarily disposed of.

But what about everything in between?

This year, BBC Radio 1 brought in Event Cycle to help answer that question. We were tasked with delivering an asset audit onsite in Liverpool, identifying reusable and recyclable materials during build and derig, and repurposing what we could before anything hit the bins. Our goal wasn’t just to reduce waste, but to create positive impact - social, environmental and cultural -  through the materials that so often get overlooked. Could used event materials generate real social value instead of just another pile in a skip?

Yes, they could.

By walking the site, observing the front of house, back of house and VIP zones, and building trust with contractors, we were able to intercept key items before they became part of the waste stream. We salvaged over 500m² of scrim, 12 wooden pallets, 50m² Plastic mesh signage and 38 Foamex stars from dressing room doors. These were all donated to Dig In CIO, a mental health and wellbeing charity supporting UK veterans and ex emergency service staff. At Dig In’s walled garden in Preston, these materials are now being used to support veterans recovering from trauma and isolation, offering community, skill-building and purpose.

But that was just the start.

Alongside the repurposed materials, we also observed a wide range of additional items with future reuse potential, including bar structures, soft furnishings, lanyards, signage and graphics. While these fell outside the immediate scope of this year’s intervention, they represent a clear opportunity for the future. Small changes in planning and procurement, such as earlier engagement, better material selection, and simple end-of-life planning, could unlock even more value from materials already on site.

Our work fed into a set of practical sustainability recommendations for future editions of the festival, including the introduction of asset tracking, recovery points, and a shift away from short-life materials like MDF and Foamex. We also highlighted the importance of communication. When a festival like Radio 1’s Big Weekend champions reuse and repurposing, it doesn’t just benefit the planet. It sets a cultural example, tells a story, and shows what’s possible when sustainability is embedded in production from the start.

And through this pilot intervention, we saw what can happen when waste is thought of as an opportunity, when used event materials are seen as potential, and when a festival chooses to leave more than just memories behind.

Want to build sustainability into your event from the start? 

Talk to us about audits, reuse planning and social value eventcycleuk@gmail.com