How Zilker Park is kept green during, after Austin City Limits

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Thousands will soon gather at Zilker Park for the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL), but as bands take the stage, volunteers are behind the scenes making sure everything goes smoothly—including keeping the festival grounds green.

Austin Parks Foundation (APF) said it has volunteer opportunities available for its greening programs, and applications are now open for both weekends of the festival, which runs Oct. 4-6 and 11-13.

APF said it would lead volunteer operations of several sustainable practices that make a significant impact on keeping the festival green and clean.

The foundation said the programs include:

• Rock & Recycle – Encourages attendees to gather a bag of recyclables from the grounds in exchange for an ACL lineup tee. Volunteers help make attendees aware and encourage participation.
• Divert It! – Volunteers encourage and educate fans by helping them compost, recycle and send less waste to landfills
• Hydration stations – Volunteers serve attendees free, filtered, cool water

“All volunteers get to enjoy the festival before or after their shift,” APF said.

The foundation said festival attendees also help fund Austin’s green spaces by simply purchasing a ticket.

“ACL Fest’s partnership with APF has provided more than $63 million to Austin’s public park system over the past 19 years,” APF said. “Last year’s festival alone generated $8.1 million toward Austin park improvements.”

The foundation said applicants should be notified in September if selected to be a volunteer.

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