Eco-art Installation Trash EEE-lk Urges Festival goers to ‘Drop Beats, Not Vapes’ at Forest Fest

• ERP Ireland brings striking eco-art installation, Trash EEE-lk, to highly anticipated music event Forest Fest as part of efforts to ‘Drop Beats, Not Vapes.’
• The 13-foot-tall installation’s appearance follows new research which reveals just 8 percent of respondents recycled vapes last year, with 6 percent admitting to holding onto unused devices.
• As part of this campaign from ERP Ireland, the public are being reminded that vapes contain critical resources such as lithium – which can be recovered and reused to power everyday devices, including mobile phones, laptops and power banks.

 

IRELAND: ERP Ireland has today announced that it will bring its eco-art installation, Trash EEE-lk, to Forest Fest as part of its Drop Beats Not Vapes campaign. This initiative aims to encourage festivalgoers to recycle used vapes responsibly and keep them out of the general waste bin. Forest Fest takes place in Emo, Co. Laois from 24–26 July.

 

Commonly used at music festivals and outdoor events, vapes pose a growing challenge when disposed of incorrectly - presenting fire hazards in bin lorries and at waste management facilities, whilst contributing to environmental pollution. Recycled correctly, critical materials such as lithium, often discarded in vapes, could instead be recovered and reused to power everyday devices, including mobile phones and laptops.

 

Standing 13 feet tall and stretching over 16 feet in length, the striking Trash EEE-lk sculpture has quickly become one of Ireland’s most recognisable environmental art installations. Created by renowned Irish artist Ned Leddy, the iconic structure comprises of over 1,000 discarded electrical items and components and serves as a powerful reminder that everyday items, such as vapes, which are also electrical, contain batteries and should never be binned but properly recycled.

 

Trash EEE-lk’s visit to Forest Fest comes on the back of newly released findings commissioned by ERP Ireland on behaviours and attitudes around vape recycling and disposal.

 

Conducted by Coyne Research among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 18+, the study reveals:

• 21% of respondents own vapes, yet only 8% say they recycle them
• 13% admit to putting vapes in the general waste bin in the past year
• 1 in 10 respondents have an unused vape at home
• More than 1 in 3 now recognise that vapes should be disposed of in a battery recycling box
• 1 in 8 people have switched to reusable vapes due to the impending disposable vape ban, rising to 1 in 4 among Gen Z

ERP Ireland has highlighted the critical role retailers have to play in vape recycling. Currently, retailers are legally required to accept used vapes free of charge on a one-for-one basis and are encouraged to ensure in-store collection points are clearly visible.

 

Commenting on the partnership with Forest Fest, Yvonne Holmes, Head of Corporate Communications at ERP Ireland, said: “We are delighted to bring Trash EEE-lk to Forest Fest to connect with festivalgoers on what is a really important issue. Vapes are often overlooked when it comes to recycling, yet they should never end up in the general waste bin. This installation, the Trash EEE-lk is designed to stop people in their tracks and encourage simple action - when you’re out at events this summer, just remember to Drop Beats, Not Vapes.”

 

Philip Meagher, Festival Director of Forest Fest, says: Philip Meagher, Director of Forest Fest, added: "The Trash EEE-lk fits in really well with what Forest Fest has always tried to be. We want people to have a great time, but we also want them to consider the community, people and environment around them. What I love about this sculpture is that it makes you think. Ned Leddy has built something that's both striking to look at and a genuine call to action. It inspires appropriate consideration of your living environment and the daily environmental footprints that we all play a part in leaving behind us, both individually and collectively. I can't wait to see the Trash EEE-lk standing proud in Bee's Wing Farm in our brand new Kickin' Up Dust Arena."

 

Ellie Dowling, Sustainability Manager at Forest Fest commented: “At Forest Fest, sustainability is about taking practical steps that make a real difference. From reducing emissions and protecting biodiversity to improving waste management and encouraging responsible behaviours, we are constantly looking for ways to lessen our environmental impact and engage our community in that journey.

Trash EEE-lk is a great example of that approach. We're delighted to be partnering on this initiative to help festivalgoers dispose of vapes correctly and keep electronic waste out of general waste bins. It’s an important awareness campaign that complements our wider sustainability goals and will help support our plans to phase out disposable vapes at the festival in the future. By working together with our attendees, traders, and partners, we can continue building a greener, more responsible festival for everyone.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editor:

Please see images of Ned Leddy, Trash EEE-lk artist attached.

 

For further information and/or interview queries, please contact: rebeccac@thereputationsagency.ie or call 086 173 5590

 

About ERP

European Recycling Platform (ERP) was founded in 2002 in response to the introduction of the European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. ERP’s mission is to ensure high-quality and cost-effective implementation of the WEEE, batteries and packaging directives, for the benefit of its customers and the environment.

 

In June 2014, ERP joined Landbell Group, a global platform for extended producer responsibility. ERP and Landbell Group have collected almost 8.5 million tonnes of packaging, 5 million tonnes of e-waste, and over 122,000 tonnes of portable batteries.

 

ERP operates 43 producer responsibility organisations in 18 countries including Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and the UK. By passing on the advantages of multinational recycling operations to customers, ERP has proved to be a competitive solution for companies in the countries where it operates for WEEE, batteries, packaging and textile compliance, as well as take-back services.

European Recycling Platform Ireland DAC was established in 2005 due to the success and expansion of ERP across Europe, providing WEEE and Waste Battery compliance and a B2B service to members. For further information, please see www.erp-recycling.org.

 

About Forest Fest

Forest Fest was voted No. 1 Festival in Ireland in The Irish Times Critics’ Poll 2025, shortlisted for Best Small Festival 2025 in the IMRO Live Music Awards and crowned Best Event / Festival at the Midlands Hospitality Awards 2025, firmly cementing its reputation as one of the country’s most respected boutique music festivals.

Founded by Laois native Philip Meagher, Forest Fest was created with a clear purpose: to bring exceptional music to audiences who value carefully curated line-ups and a truly premium festival experience. It is a festival for those who want to see artists come together in ways rarely seen on Irish soil, the kind of line-up that feels instantly iconic.

For 2026, the festival remains rooted in the beautiful village of Emo, with the stunning backdrop of Emo Court still central to the experience. A new site layout within Bee’s Wing Farm introduces more space across the festival, allowing for a more comfortable experience and improved facilities, while retaining the walkable, convenient village-based setting that festival-goers know and love.

Deliberately prioritising atmosphere and experience over scale or commerciality, Forest Fest transforms Emo, Co. Laois into an intimate yet vibrant festival hub. The involvement of local businesses, volunteers and residents is central to the festival’s warm, distinctive character and strong sense of community.

Sustainability is a core pillar of the festival’s ethos, and through our partnership with Native Events, we are focused on reducing emissions, protecting biodiversity, and encouraging collective action through practical initiatives across energy, transport, waste and materials, food and beverage, and governance.

Each year, we collaborate with a range of stakeholders to advance our sustainability journey. In 2026, we are focusing on traders and attendees, working together to create a greener, more responsible festival for everyone involved.

Through transparent reporting and responsible partnerships, we aim to create a festival experience that respects nature while inspiring positive change

The long-term vision is clear: Forest Fest will continue to grow as one of Ireland’s most loved festivals while preserving the boutique atmosphere and premium experience that set it apart, a proudly independent event standing confidently alongside the world’s leading festivals. For further information, please visit www.forestfest.ie