HONESDALE, PA — The Roots and Rhythm Music and Arts Festival has become a summertime entertainment fixture in Honesdale, and organizers say it has also become an environmentally sustainable event.

Seven festival organizers, appearing before the Wayne County Commissioners on December 3 to offer their thanks for Wayne’s past support, brought some good environmental news as well.

Audiences filling Honesdale’s Central Park in 2008 and 2009 generated more than four tons of landfill trash, but times have changed.

A partial recycling program, begun in 2010, cut that amount to 1,200 pounds while recycling some 200 pounds. The festival won a Pennsylvania Waste Watcher Award.

By 2013 the free festival was recycling, adding volunteers to aid people in waste/compostable diversion, and was named as a “Near Zero Waste” generator as landfill waste fell to 380 pounds. Over 1,100 pounds of recyclables and compostables were collected, as well as another Waste Watcher Award.

Last summer, food venders were asked to use only recyclable and/or compostable “serviceware and packaging.” Landfill waste fell to 320 pounds and recyclables rose to an estimated 1,150 pounds.

“Next year we’re hoping to have no Styrofoam at all,” said Cheryl Badner, who distributed the environmental report.

Brian Fulp said he and other organizers were thrilled with the festival’s success, but they’re in need of help. Volunteers are getting difficult to find, he said suggesting, “perhaps there’s a way to pay high school students.”

Commissioner Jonathan Fritz agreed. “My kids need rewards. How about artist- autographed T-shirts?”

Fulp said the festival also would appreciate help with security services. “We had used the Job Corps, but that’s not working,” he added.

No promises were forthcoming, but Commissioner Wendell Kay offered some hope. “We’re obligated to produce a timely budget despite Harrisburg’s difficulty, but I’m confident that money will flow,” he said.

The 2016 festival is scheduled for June 18 and will feature an “Americana” theme, said Randy Kohrs, who has been contacting talent. But Kohrs would not yield any information about their names, despite Fritz urging.

“The festival is such a success. Sometimes these things come and go. This seems to ramp up every year. I’m so proud that Wayne County is its home,” Fritz said.

Commissioners Chair Brian Smith last year was invited on stage to introduce The Headhunters band. A grinning Smith recalled, “I was so excited and so happy that the rain held off.”