Pictures shows disgraceful aftermath of Glastonbury Festival

More than 200,000 people have headed home from one of the world’s most famous festivals – but a disgusting sight has been left behind.

Glastonbury Festival has come to end but the huge clean-up operation has just begun. Picture: AAP

England’s famous five-day Glastonbury Festival has come to end for 2023 with shocking pictures showing the sea of litter left behind as revellers cleared out.

Cans, plastic bottles, toilet paper, abandoned camping gear and inflatable toys were pictured strewn across the farmland where the festival is held in Somerset — in England’s south-west.

Seagulls could be seen plucking things from the rubbish with their beaks.

Elton John at 2023 Glastonbury Festival. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Volunteers arrived after the festival to help with the mess. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Festival-goers carry their belongings as they walk across a field covered in litter at the end of Glastonbury Festival. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

A sea of rubbish is left behind each year despite ticket holders needing to sign a pledge to dispose of rubbish correctly and take their belongings home. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

More than 200,000 people attended the festival, which had a star-studded line-up including Elton John, Guns N’ Roses, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Lana Del Rey, The Chicks, Lewis Capaldi and Arctic Monkeys.

The gross scenes at Worthy Farm appear at the end of the festival each year, despite Glastonbury telling attendees “Love the farm, leave no trace!”, festival-goers needing to sign up to the event’s green pledge when purchasing a ticket, and campsite stewards providing bin bags during pack up.

The festival has a sophisticated clean-up operation to deal with the mess. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

Fortunately, the festival has a well-organised system with an official “Glasto Recycling Team” made up of volunteers to clean-up after those who refuse to listen.

It’s a serious operation and to join the team festival-goers need a personal recommendation from a previous recycling volunteer.

On average, about 9.5kg of waste is estimated to be left behind for each person who attends. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

About 1000 “litter pickers” are reported to be tasked with the huge clean-up, collecting rubbish and sorting it into what can be composted or recycled.

An estimated 2 million kilograms of waste is left behind each year, according to local media.

But volunteers say the amount of rubbish left behind seems to have improved over recent years.

In 2019, the festival banned the sale of single-use plastic bottles to help.

Tickets cost $645 this year, including a booking fee. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

Revellers listen as the Foo Fighters perform on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage. Picture:: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The entire clean-up process can take up to a month to complete or even longer during bad weather, according to British newspaper The Mirror.

The festival was started by dairy farmer Michael Eavis in 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died, with just 1500 people.

Tickets back then only cost £1 and included free milk from the farm.

These days the capacity of the event is 210,000 people and tickets cost £340 ($645).

Originally published as Pictures shows disgraceful aftermath of Glastonbury Festival